NewsFiskars Group invests circa EUR 10 million in Finland – emissions from Iittala glass factory reduced by 74%

Press release October 5, 2022

Fiskars Group invests circa EUR 10 million in Finland – emissions from Iittala glass factory reduced by 74%

Fiskars Corporation
Press Release
October 5, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. (EEST)

Fiskars Group invests circa EUR 10 million in Finland – emissions from Iittala glass factory reduced by 74%

Fiskars Group's target is to reduce its climate emissions by increasing operational efficiency and investing in renewable energy. As part of this target, the company is making an energy investment of approximately EUR 10 million in its Iittala glass factory in Hämeenlinna, Finland, where Iittala's iconic glass products are manufactured for sale in Finland and globally.

Fiskars Group is replacing the factory’s existing, natural gas powered furnaces with electricity-powered furnaces. These new furnaces incorporate high technology solutions and will use renewable energy. The project will start next year and be completed during 2026. With this investment, the glass factory will reduce its annual carbon dioxide emissions by 74 per cent by the end of 2026.

"Sustainability is a key enabler of Fiskars Group's Growth Strategy. The Iittala glass factory has been a pioneer in the Finnish glass industry since 1881, and we are proud to continue investing in its future and in our local operations by reducing emissions," says Nathalie Ahlström, President and CEO of Fiskars Group.

Approximately 30% of the total investment will be covered by the European Union's NextGenerationEU funding granted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland on 4 October 2022. This energy investment aid to the Iittala glass factory is EUR 2.871 million.

"We are very pleased to receive this funding for the Iittala glass factory’s transition to production methods with lower emissions. The EU funding, together with our own investments, will reduce the factory’s annual carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 10,000 tons or 74%. Also the plant's nitrogen oxide and fine particle emissions will be significantly reduced," Ahlström continues.

In addition to reducing the factory’s carbon dioxide emissions, the new furnaces will also decrease the energy consumption of the glass melting furnaces by 67%. The furnaces are responsible for most of the factory's total energy consumption.

Fiskars Group has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its own operations (Scopes 1 and 2) by 60% from a 2017 base year by 2030. In addition, the company is committed to reducing GHG emissions from transportation and distribution (Scope 3) by 30% from a 2018 base year.

One of Finland's most internationally known glass items, the Aalto vase, is manufactured at the Iittala glass factory

The Iittala glass factory, founded in 1881, is the only glass factory still in operation in Finland. It employs around 200 people in Hämeenlinna.

One of Finland's most internationally known glass items, the Aalto vase designed by Alvar Aalto, is mouth-blown at the factory. The factory's glass workers also make, for example, the birds designed by Oiva Toikka and many popular tableware items. The Iittala glass factory is open to the public.

FISKARS CORPORATION

Media contacts:
Fiskars Group, Media Relations, press@fiskars.com, tel. +358 40 553 3151

Fiskars Group in brief

Fiskars Group (FSKRS, Nasdaq Helsinki) is the global home of design-driven brands for indoor and outdoor living. Our brands include Fiskars, Gerber, Iittala, Royal Copenhagen, Moomin by Arabia, Waterford, and Wedgwood. Our brands are present in more than 100 countries and we have more than 350 own stores. We have 7,000 employees and our global net sales in 2021 were EUR 1.3 billion.

We are driven by our common purpose: Pioneering design to make the everyday extraordinary. Since 1649, we have designed products of timeless, purposeful, and functional beauty, while driving innovation and sustainable growth.