At VTT, sustainable development is at the core of everything we do, and our corporate responsibility flows first and foremost from our research and innovation which is aimed at tackling and solving major challenges. Our task is to develop sustainable solutions for our customers and for society, and principles of sustainable development are taken into account in both our internal operations as well as in all our research and service activities.
This autumn, VTT has decided to commit itself to the UN Global Compact. The companies within this compact commit to operating according to the initiative’s ten principles in the areas of human rights, working standards, the environment, and anti-corruption measures. The Global Compact seeks to build sustainable growth, and it will serve as the framework for defining corporate responsibility in VTT’s coming corporate responsibility programme.
VTT corporate responsibility program now under construction
We are currently putting together a comprehensive corporate responsibility programme that is based on both an extensive analysis of our current situation carried out in the spring as well as a materiality analysis carried out with our stakeholder groups. Four areas have been chosen as focus areas for corporate responsibility, and we will be setting objectives, indicators and measures for these. The four focus areas are:
- Sustainable solutions and services for customers
- Societal impact
- Ethical practices and environmental sustainability in VTT’s own operations
- Responsibility for our own employees
More specific objectives will be specified for each of these four focus areas in line with VTT’s overall strategy. Corporate responsibility is the business of everyone at VTT, so we will also be seeking the participation of our personnel in developing our corporate responsibility work.
Materiality analysis serves as starting point for corporate responsibility work
Last spring, VTT carried out a materiality analysis in which it surveyed the opinions and expectations of key stakeholder groups with regards to corporate responsibility at VTT. These key stakeholder groups customers, decision-makers, the scientific community, the media and, of course, VTT’s own personnel.
The aim of the materiality analysis was to give shape to the focus areas for VTT’s corporate responsibility work in the areas of social, economic and environmental responsibility, and to ensure that this work is directed towards matters which are important to us. The results of the analysis were used to specify the priorities for sustainable development at VTT, and these priorities now serve as the foundation on which our corporate responsibility programme is currently being constructed.
