In December 2017, Nordic Morning Group brought all of its Helsinki-based operations under one roof in a new extension of Rantatie Business Park in Helsinki’s Kalasatama district. The employees of Nordic Morning Finland, Edita Publishing and Nordic Morning Group Plc moved to the office, along with most of Edita Prima’s office workers.

Commuting

The new office is expected to reduce commuting times and transport-related environmental impacts. Moving several subsidiaries under one roof in itself eliminates the need for travel between separate offices. The office’s location near a metro station also promotes the use of public transport for commuting. Being near Helsinki’s city centre with good public transport links was an important factor in choosing the location. Several meeting rooms are also equipped with videoconferencing equipment, which further reduces the need for travel. Employees also have the opportunity to work remotely when their work allows it.

The property

The electricity for the property is supplied by Nordic Green Energy, which exclusively sells electricity generated from renewable energy sources. This in itself represents an improvement, as not all of the previous office premises used green electricity. Some 99% of the electricity used at the office is generated by hydropower and the remaining 1% by wind power.

The property is heated by district heating. The delivery of district heating and district cooling is partly based on radiation pressure, which reduces energy consumption by 10–20% compared to traditional systems. The ventilation system at the property includes heat recovery. The property has been submitted for LEED Gold certification.

As lighting represents a substantial proportion of the energy consumption of office properties, the choice of lighting products and lighting control systems has a notable effect on the energy efficiency of the office. The workstation areas in the office are equipped with LED lighting. Lighting is partly controlled by scheduling software and partly by motion sensors.

ICT equipment

Energy-efficient models with an EnergyStar rating are given priority when purchasing computer displays, workstations and laptops. The office also uses GreenSnapper software to remotely shut down computers that have been left on. The number of multifunction printers was reduced and the SecurePrint system was introduced to cut down on unnecessary printing and prevent employees from losing or forgetting about their printouts. Office paper is ecolabelled (EU Flower). The kitchen appliances purchased for the office (dishwashers, refrigerators) have an energy rating of AAA.

Waste

A modern office creates relatively little waste because all administrative routines are digital. The small amount of waste that is generated gets sorted into several different waste types to reduce the negative environmental impacts and promote the recycling of waste. Among other things, the office sorts paper waste, cardboard waste, organic waste, combustible waste and hazardous waste (such as decommissioned ICT equipment).

To reduce their environmental impact, companies must choose the right processes right materials and production methods. We recommend our customers to digitalize their processes and to use internationally recognized labels as they are visible signals of environmental responsibility.

Digitalization of the processes

Nordic Morning Group decreases its customers’ environmental impact. All our business units help our customers to both digitalize their processes and make use of modern digital technologies. Digital processes often mean less environmental impact than traditional processes, because there is less need for raw materials and transportations.

• Nordic Morning offers its customers data-driven marketing programs by using AI-based marketing tools. Using data in digital marketing makes the programs more optimized and more effective. For the environment perspective it is always for not to do unnecessary or ineffective actions.
• Edita Prima has helped its customers to automate its customer communication processes. This has meant less phases in the work process, less raw material consumption and more efficient transportation methods.
• Edita Publishing offers its customers on-line learning courses with no need to travel.

The Nordic Ecolabel

The environmental impact of printed products has been considered throughout the production chain, from paper manufacturing to the delivery of the finished product. The printed product fulfills the Nordic Ecolabel’s standards for forest management, pulp and paper manufacturing, printing and waste management.

Nordic Morning Group’s printing plants have been granted the right to use the Nordic Ecolabel. The Group's net revenue from products carrying the Nordic Ecolabel was about EUR 180 000 in 2017.

Guarantees of origin – paper

Forest certification ensures that forests are managed according to agreed criteria and that the wood fiber used is monitored from forest to finished product. The forest management criteria apply to matters such as:

• compliance with national laws and international agreements
• respect for the rights of indigenous peoples and of workers
• maintaining the biodiversity of forests
• preserving forests with a significant environmental protection value.

The processes we engage in at Nordic Morning Group’s printing plants to track down the source of paper are certified according to international reference standards. For this reason, our printing companies are entitled to use labels showing that our paper originates from a responsibly chosen source. 

Supply chain

From the perspective of environmental responsibility, Nordic Morning Group’s most significant purchases are those related to the paper and electricity supply chains. We will not procure paper that originates from illegal felling or from forests with a significant environmental protection value. We adhere to the following principles when procuring paper:

• We will scrutinize the environmental responsibility programs and wood procurement principles of paper suppliers.
• We will prioritize paper that carries the Nordic Ecolabel and is CoC certified.
• We will prioritize paper that is manufactured in the Nordic countries.

Nordic Morning Group’s printing plants solely use energy generated from renewable sources. The Helsinki production facility uses hydroelectric power and wood-based biofuels. The goal is that all of the Group companies will use electricity generated from renewable sources.

Chemicals used in printing carry the Nordic Ecolabel. Before introducing a new chemical into the process, its right to carry the Nordic Ecolabel will always be checked with the organization that grants the right to use the label.

Offices

In office work, most of our environmental impact comes from energy consumption and carbon-dioxide emissions caused by travel. Since 2013 we have had a determined effort to centralize our operations and increase our efficient use of premises. In December 2017 all Helsinki offices moved into same premises. In Sweden there have been several moves during the previous years. These has lead to increased energy efficiency and improved management of the office practices.

Most of our Group companies’ offices are included into the carbon footprint calculations.

Printing plant

The environmental systems for our production activities ensure that our environmental work is systematic and focused on continuous improvement. The systems also ensure that we follow current environmental legislation. By the end of 2017 Nordic Morning Group only had one printing plant. Edita Prima’s printing plant is located in Helsinki, and it is certified in accordance with the ISO 14001 standard for environmental management, and it has published its own annual environmental report since 2004.

In our production activities, the main sources of environmental impact are materials, energy, waste, and emissions. We began measuring our waste volumes regularly in the 1990’s. In 2017, around 90 percent of the total waste volume was recyclable. Over the past decade, the volume of waste that has been sorted separately has increased, but it has become possible to recycle a larger range of materials.

We have positive cash flow from our waste disposal activities: the amount of waste sold brings in more funds than the amount paid for waste disposal.

In 2017 Edita Prima improved energy efficiency by making more efficient use of space. At Nordic Morning Group’s printing plants, energy is used to operate machines and equipment, as well as for heating, lighting and ventilation of the premises. Edita Prima’s printing plant use district heating, and the municipal water supply as their only source of water.

Edita Prima’s operations generated 6,7 tonnes hazardous waste. The amount of hazardous waste has dropped to one tenth from 2011. At the same time the consumption of solvents has also dropped to 4,3 tonnes which is one sixth of the volume in 2012. These result primarily from the changes in production technology, with older offset printing machines being partly replaced by digital printing machines.

Climate neutrality

In autumn 2008, Nordic Morning Group began measuring the Group’s total carbon-dioxide emissions. We have already reduced our emissions by 75 percent

One important step in reducing our carbon footprint has been the transition to electricity from renewable sources (green electricity) by all printing companies. In 2017 Edita Prima and Mods Graphic Studio were climate-neutral. They compensate for the remaining emissions by funding UN-supervised clean development mechanism projects in India.

As a company in the communications sector, we have a particular responsibility for promoting environmental awareness among our stakeholders. We aim to ensure that the day-to-day decisions made by the Group’s employees comply with the principles of sustainable development both at work and at home.

We help our customers find solutions that are as sustainable as possible. We use communications channels such as the www.ekojulkaisu.fi website to present information on how environmental issues should be considered in the various phases of designing and producing printed materials.

• Our printing companies use electricity generated from renewable sources.
• We increase the efficiency of our production and office facilities by merging sites.
• We have discontinued the most carbon-intensive production operations.
• We invest in improving energy-efficiency; for example, lighting systems have been replaced at production facilities and the head office.

• We reduce business travel by using video conferencing.
• We use software with which we can turn off computers remotely.
• We use leasing cars that are less harmful to the environment.
• The Group travel policy encourages employees to make environmentally friendly decisions on business trips: the Group companies have offered employees choices such as subsidized public transport tickets and rental city bikes.

• We compensate for carbon-dioxide emissions by funding UN-supervised clean development mechanism projects.
• We use transport services in Finland that are environmentally compensated for.
• We provide training on environmental issues to employees.