Menu
Search
Advanced Search
My Cart 1
Menu
Account

Sustainability

The Baltic Sea and its surrounding archipelago are important for Eckerö Line - the sea is our life. We promote and develop our responsible practices in our business and throughout our entire value chain. Everyone in our organization has a responsibility to actively follow and to further develop our established sustainability goals.

We are dedicated to promoting responsible travelling and developing sustainable ways to operate. We are a part of the Sustainable Travel Finland programme, which promotes sustainable tourism and we control the environmental impact of our operations with the help of the ISO14001 environmental standard.

What does responsibility mean to us?

Shipping is affected by a large number of directives and legislation - in addition to complying with them, we want to do more and implement responsibility work as a natural part of our daily operations. The Baltic Sea, the beaches of the Gulf of Finland and the archipelago are our lifeblood. Our goal is that our operations burden the environment as little as possible and that our group is constantly developing new procedures to reduce emissions from ships and to handle waste products and waste.

At Eckerö Line, we promote responsible operating methods in our own business and for the entire value chain, taking into account ecological, economic and socio-cultural perspectives. We care about people, and we have clear instructions for responsible procurement. We regularly train and encourage our staff to actively work on safety, the environment and responsibility. For our customers, it is seen as customer-oriented service and safety that respects the environment, for the staff as an equal and encouraging workplace, and for our other stakeholders as a reliable and listening partnership. We also want to promote social issues concerning our industry.

Eckerö Group's Sustainability Report

We have an STF label

Eckerö Linella Sustainable Travel Finland label. It is a mark developed by Visit Finland and awarded by Business Finland to tourism companies and areas operating in Finland that are approved and meet the criteria and have gone through the Sustainable Travel Finland (STF) program of sustainable actions and choices. The label is awarded to companies that serve leisure travelers. The STF mark indicates the long-term, planned and concrete development of responsible tourism. The STF badge is renewed regularly.

Environment

We are constantly developing our vessels' functions to optimize energy consumption and to reduce emissions. Eckerö Line is committed to a joint and ambitious programme for the shipping industry to reduce emissions in line with the goals set by the EU and the IMO (International Maritime Organization). Read more about how you, as a passenger, can impact the environment and emissions. 

Emissions

For us, environmental liability means combating climate change, protecting water and air, and using natural resources sparingly. Our biggest sustainability challenge in terms of ecological responsibility is to find a way to power the propellers and produce electricity needed onboard without using fossil fuels in the future. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we use a low sulphur fuel with a sulphur content of 0.1%. Ship specific emissions are measured and monitored and the results are reported to the EU and IMO.

In addition to the high-quality fuel, we optimize operating speeds, for example, and ensure the treatment of ship’s hull, which in traffic directly affects fuel consumption and thus emissions. Speed adjustments and technical improvements do not only reduce fuel consumption and emissions, but also lower the impact of noise and vibration on the marine environment and sediments, and increase passenger comfort.

Shipping included in the EU Emissions Trading System

Eckerö Line has joined the EU Emissions Trading System EU ETS in 2024. The goal is a cleaner environment that we can enjoy and also preserve for future generations. A task Eckerö Line is happy to participate in. Environmental friendliness and responsibility are global trends in the shipping industry.

The EU ETS is the EU Emissions Trading System

The EU's objective is to reduce net emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG emissions) by at least 55% by 2030 and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The EU ETS is a key tool to achieve this goal. EU ETS is an abbreviation of European Union Emissions Trading System. It is the world's first emissions trading system and was established in 2005. The EU ETS is still the largest emissions trading system aimed at reducing greenhouse gases in several countries and industries.

Shipping is included in the EU ETS from 1 January 2024

EU ETS covers electricity and heat production, energy-intensive industry sectors and commercial air traffic within the European Economic Area and from 1 January 2024, shipping and it´s operators will gradually join the EU ETS emissions trading system. Together we can achieve the EU's climate goals.

Maritime transport plays a significant and essential role in the EU economy. It is one of the most energy-efficient forms of transport and at the same time a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Maritime transport accounts for 3-4 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions in the EU; in 2021 this was over 124 million tonnes (link: https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/transport/reducing-emissions-shipping-sector_en)

The expansion of the EU ETS applies to carbon dioxide emissions of large ships (gross tonnage over 5,000 tonnes) regardless of the flag they sail under. The system will include:

  • all emissions from ships calling at an EU port on a voyage within the EU
  • 50 percent of emissions from voyages starting or ending outside of the EU
  • all emissions are taken into account while a ship is moored at an EU port

As of 2024, Eckerö Line will pay for the carbon dioxide emissions from it´s ships m/s Finlandia and m/s Finbo Cargo as part of the EU's measures to reduce GHG emissions, and is thereby contributing to reaching the climate goals. To ensure a smooth transition to the emissions trading system, the shipping companies will gradually increase the number of emission allowances they buy each year in relation to total emissions:

  • 40 percent of reported emissions in 2024
  • 70 percent of reported emissions in 2025
  • 100 percent from 2026 onwards

How does the system work?

Companies buy emission allowances annually in the EU ETS trading system. The EU has set a cap on emission allowances. One purchased emission quota corresponds to one tonne of carbon dioxide emissions or one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent. The market price of emission allowances is governed by supply and demand and the allowances are bought at an auction.

The cap on emissions is reduced every year in order to achieve climate neutrality in 2050. This puts pressure on companies to more quickly create measures that reduce their environmental footprint.

Some companies in sectors prone to carbon leakage receive free emission allowances to support their competitiveness and to prevent them from moving their production outside the EU. The revenue from the auctioning of emission allowances is used for climate and energy measures in EU member states.The EU ETS initially covers carbon dioxide emissions. As of 2026 both methane and nitrous oxide emissions will also be included in the ETS system.

What has Eckerö Line already done and how will the EU ETS affect customers?

For many years, Eckerö Line has worked to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. We are committed to a joint and ambitious emission reduction programme in the shipping industry in accordance with the goals set by the EU and the IMO (International Maritime Organization). We are constantly developing our vessels to optimize energy consumption and reduce emissions. In addition to being beneficial for the environment, it is also positive for the company's finances in the long run.

M/s Finbo Cargo and m/s Finlandia use a low-sulphur fuel (0.1% sulphur content) and the amounts of emissions per ship are monitored. The measurement results are reported to the EU and IMO. The speed of the ships and bottom treatments also affect fuel consumption and thus the emissions. Therefore, speeds are optimized and bottom treatment is a part of maintenance during ships docking. M/s Finlandia also uses shore power instead of ship engines to generate energy when the ship stays longer in port in both Tallinn and Helsinki.

The transition to the EU ETS emissions trading system on 1 January 2024 will enhance Eckerö Line's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As does the Fuel EU Maritime Regulation, which will enter into force in 2025; shipping companies will invest in development, use and new technology of renewable and low-carbon fuel. Both EU ETS and Fuel EU Maritime are large-scale systems and reforms in which Eckerö Line invests significantly financially. They cause a need to include costs in the price of the travel ticket, 0.50 €/freight meter and 1 €/passenger on the passenger side.

Read more about the EU ETS system on the European Commission website.

Energy and water consumption

We limit water consumption and increase energy efficiency with various technical solutions. Waste heat from the ship's engines and seawater temperature is utilized as an energy source of our ventilation and heating systems. At night in the ports of Tallinn and Helsinki, m/s Finlandia is connected to shore power, which means that diesel-driven auxiliary engines are not needed to produce the energy the ship needs. Using shore power is an environmental act that improves air quality and reduces noise in the port's surroundings. This project was part of the European Union-funded Twin-Port III project, which improved, among other things, the energy efficiency of ports.

In lighting, we have switched to energy-efficient LED lamps.The dishwashers in our restaurants are water efficient and the stoves have been replaced by induction hobs, which has reduced energy consumption and minimized the generated waste heat. To reduce water consumption, automatic taps have been extensively installed on ships and toilets are emptied under vacuum.

Waste management

We sort all waste produced by our operations on all of Eckerö Groups passenger and freight vessels. Waste is produced in the passenger facilities, as well as during the operation of the vessels. Sorted waste generated on ships is treated in Estonia at the Green Marine waste treatment plant, where it is given new life as energy. We also sort the waste produced by our land operations, as in harbour operations, in our offices and storehouses.

In many different areas of our operations the amount of waste generated is minimized. In ship restaurants and cafes, we always strive to use reusable utensils and cutlery to minimize the consumption of disposable packaging materials. Necessary packaging and disposable materials have been replaced by ecological alternatives made from renewable or recycled materials. Our goal for cafes and restaurants is that by 2025, all disposables are made from 100% renewable materials. In ship restaurants, we use biodegradable napkins made in Finland by the Finnish family business Fiblon.

The ship has a closed wastewater system. To achieve the highest possible degree of purification, we discharge all wastewater ashore, for treatment by a local wastewater treatment plant. No part of our wastewater ends up burdening the Baltic Sea. Through our activities, we want to promote the active development of a healthier Baltic Sea.

Our goal is to reduce the amount of waste generated and increase the recycling rate:

The waste onboard m/s Finlandia and m/s Finbo Cargo is sorted as follows:
  • Combustible waste (mixed waste)
  • Plastic
  • Paper
  • Glass
  • Aluminium cans
  • Scrap metal
  • Hazardous waste
  • Food waste
  • Cooking oil
  • Waste oil
  • Bilge water
  • Waste water (grey and black water)
In order to reduce the amount of waste and increase recycling efficiency, we work with various organisations. In 2020, Eckerö Line's discarded workwear, worn for more than ten years, was recycled in collaboration with Dafecor Oy in Finland. The clothes were recycled as textiles for industrial needs, such as oil absorption. And in 2018, in cooperation with Image Wear, about two hundred bed sheets were made for the Helsinki Mother and Child Home Association, from fabrics left over from the old workwear collection.

As a partner, Eckerö Line supports a campaign led by the City of Tallinn and the World Cleanup Day environmental organization. The campaign focuses on raising awareness of the negative environmental impact cigarette butts have when they end up in nature, and also to provoke a debate for a cleaner Baltic Sea. A significant share of the world’s plastic waste problem stems from cigarette butts that end up in nature and marine ecosystems.
The actual cigarette butt is a filter made of a plastic called cellulose acetate, which decomposes into toxic microplastics when thrown into nature. 50% of the plastic waste in the Baltic Sea consists of cigarette filters. Eckerö Line is involved, trying to influence ship passengers not to throw cigarette butts in the sea, on the ground or the street.

Reducing food loss

The total passenger volume of m/s Finlandia and m/s Finbo Cargo in 2023 was more than 2 million and food is purchased for the ships for just over 4 million euros a year. When passenger and food volumes are substantial, every little drop of less waste matters. On annual basis, even small improvements are significant. Our goal by 2025 is to reduce food loss by 30 %.

To us high-quality and delicious food, sustainably made from local ingredients, is important and valuable. As we value the raw materials we use and the work we do, as well as the environmental benefits of reducing food loss, we want, together with our customers, to make an effort to reduce food loss.

We monitor the amount of food waste per restaurant at every departure of the day

In accordance with the new waste law and regulation from 2021, we keep track of the food waste generated in our restaurant operations. It includes food loss (kitchen waste, serving waste and customer plate waste) as well as non-edible parts of food such as fruit peels or coffee grounds. To be able to measure and report the total amount of food waste as well as for example the main waste categories, we carefully monitor per departure and per restaurant all food waste generated on board our ships.

The monitoring is of course mandatory. However, above all monitoring helps us to reduce food waste throughout the entire supply chain, everything from purchasing ingredients to serving. The less food waste, the smaller the carbon footprint for the restaurants. Even a small change in the amount of food waste has great significance for us on an annual basis. For example, if we can reduce the food waste generated in the ship's mess by 10 grams per diner per day, we will throw away 438 kg less food in a year.

Many steps and ways to affect the amount of loss

We can affect the amount of loss in several stages. It all starts with the ship's food purchases and the planning of the quantities of food to be prepared. We can also affect the loss during preparation and serving. Passengers can have an impact on plate loss.

  • Procurement: When procuring food supply, we optimize the amount of purchases, we ensure an efficient storage cycle and we have reliable suppliers.
  • Preparation: When food is prepared in kitchens onboard for ship restaurants, the amount is carefully calculated. For example, the menus of Buffet Eckerö are planned to include a wide variety of foods, including special diets, and still not to increase food loss. The amount of food consumption in both cafes and restaurants onboard, as well as on freight vessel m/s Finbo Cargo, is monitored. The processing of raw materials is also essential when it comes to food loss. We monitor the optimization of the processing. We also invest in high-quality kitchen tools and cooking methods. The kitchen is for example equipped with a vacuum sealer and a meat grinder. With the vacuum sealer the remaining ingredients can be vacuum-wrapped and stored for example in the freezer instead of thrown away, no loss occurs. With the help of the meat grinder, meat that has been left over during cutting in the kitchen, for example fillet ends, can be utilized in meatballs as flavouring. We ensure that our personnel are up to date in reducing food waste.
  • Serving: The third aspect to reducing food loss is serving. The food presentation and the size of serving plates and cutlery are things worth considering. The sizes of pieces and portions are also important. We have for example made research about the, from customer point of view, optimal size of a piece of cake at the desserts table.
  • Plate waste: In Buffet Eckerö on m/s Finlandia the passenger serves himself the amount of food that he will eat. At buffet restaurants you can always go back for seconds if you like. We are informing passengers about reducing food waste at the buffet lines in Buffet Eckerö. We combine the food lines as soon as the first rush is over or if we have fewer customers.
  • 30% off-products at cafés: On the last departure of the day, at the café you can buy today’s products at reduced prices. The packages are labelled 30% off. This is a way to minimize loss of café products.

People

Customers

We would not be without customers: cruise passengers, commuters, conference customers, cargo customers, etc. Their safety is the foundation of our operations and the highest priority in our operations.

Passenger equality is important to us and we are developing the accessibility of our services. Together with passenger terminals, we offer a free assistance service for passengers with, for example mobility impairment, with vision or hearing impairment or reduced mobility due to old age. We take special needs into account as much as possible, starting from the booking process and the transition from the passenger terminal to the ship, during the voyage and the transition from the ship to the passenger terminal.

Our customer experience is the best in the Gulf of Finland in the Customer Index 2023 study

It is of course important to us that our customers enjoy themselves onboard our ships. Our goal is to be the most pleasant ship on the Tallinn route. We measure the customer experience with the internationally used NPS (Net Promoter Score) and closely monitor the customer feedback we receive every day during every departure. We are pleased to serve the customer as well as possible.

Eckerö Line has been ranked very well in the most recent Customer Index survey, which measures the customer experience and customer loyalty of Finnish companies in eight different industries. The survey is carried out annually.

Our customer experience was chosen as the best in the Gulf of Finland in the Customer Index 2023 study. With our customer experience, we ranked fourth and as the only shipping company among the ten best Finnish companies.

Eckerö Line also ranked first in EPSI Rating's 2023 survey of Finnish passengers' customer satisfaction in ship traffic between Finland and Estonia. The result is part of an industry survey related to ship travel, which surveyed the customer experience and satisfaction of shipping companies operating between Finland and Estonia and Finland and Sweden (including the Åland Islands). EPSI Rating is a non-profit and independent academic organization.

Our personnel

Our values that guide our personnel are job satisfaction, the fairness of doing and looking ahead. We have continuously worked together to develop the corporate culture and management, and our goal is to be the Baltic Sea's best workplace.

Our employees are equal and we promote equality in working life purposefully and systematically. We have an equality policy and the principle of equal treatment. Our employees have the same opportunities in terms of pay, terms of employment and opportunities for advancement. We have zero tolerance for discrimination, bullying and inappropriate behaviour.

Our employees also have the opportunity to maintain and deepen their professional skills. In addition to taking personal development needs into consideration, the employer also regularly organises training and coaching. Occupational safety operates both on land and on ships and aims to improve the working environment and working conditions, to protect and maintain the working capacity of workers and to prevent accidents at work.

Health promoting management

Above all, a company needs skilled and motivated employees to run the business. The values of the working community include equal treatment, fairness, tolerance and responsibility, all of which apply equally to all employees, both managerial and others. A balanced and equal working community has great significance to everyone's mental and physical well-being and to maintaining working capacity.

Eckerö Line has long been committed to an active and preventive health management. We have also developed ways of interaction between staff and employer and tools for promoting well-being at work and developing a working culture. Over the years, we have participated in many different health campaigns and programmes, such as The Finnish Seamen's Service (FSS) program Seafarers' welfare, which aims to support and encourage a healthy and active lifestyle. Onboard the ships, we invest in health promoting activities, such as providing healthy and nutritious food and maintaining on-board gyms.

Mental health challenges are a growing trend in working life. In recent years, we have increasingly focused on and made efforts to support mental health. Workplace climate and culture can have a significant impact on the mental health and well-being of employees. Although the mental health debate has opened up in recent years, the stigma around mental health issues can still prevent workers from seeking help or talking about their problems.

Through various partners, we offer our employees low-threshold psychological counselling services for a variety of life or work situations. We strive to provide support before challenges accumulate into problems. Services are anonymous and include face-to-face video meetings with a professional online or on an app, regardless of time and place.

By providing resources and support services to promote mental well-being, we as an employer create equal opportunities for everyone to succeed in the workplace. This can attract and maintain a diverse workforce and promote diversity. An active commitment to (mental) health and inclusivity by managers sends a strong message to the whole organisation. We want to create a culture that supports diversity and inclusivity, and a safe and supportive environment where every employee feels valued and accepted as part of the work community.

We have Great Place to Work certificate

Our personnel’s workability as well as its maintenance and support are an important part of both mental and physical well-being at work and, ultimately, the company's operations. Well-being at work reduces sick leave periods among other things and impacts the average retirement age. We invest in preventive occupational health and we have developed ways and tools of interaction for employees and employers about well-being at work, promoting it and the general development of work culture. 

We have received the Great Place to Work certificate since 2018, which shows that it's good to work here. The GPTW certificate is based on an annual personnel survey that measures employee experience. Based on the resent GPTW survey results (2023), our employees especially value our equality, fair treatment, the experience of the importance and meaning of their own work, and the fact that they can be themselves in the workplace. They are also proud of their work and their workplace.

We believe that a well-being workforce makes more responsible choices in their daily work, and that is reflected on customer encounters and the customer experience.

Society: educational establishments, authorities

We have had long-term educational cooperation with educational establishments that are primarily related to our line of trade and operations, such as tourism and maritime educational institutes. In 2020, Eckerö Line was awarded Partner Company of the year by Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences. We have offered students from Haaga-Helia internships and an opportunity to gain work experience, and at the same time we have, through joint projects, produced current and new information about our business.

For many young people, Eckerö Line is their first real job and it is important to us to give them a good start and prepare them for working life and to act as an exemplary coach in working life. We are pleased that we can help increase the number of experts in the Finnish tourism and service industry and deepen the level of expertise.

Our operations are essentially based on cooperation with various authorities such as the Finnish border guard and the Ministry of the Interior, the Police, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom and the Ministry of Transport and Communications. We strive for as proactive co-operation as possible, in order to be able to influence not only the smoothness of the co-operation and our own actions, but also the societal understanding of the importance of shipping companies.

Shipping is a co-operation that benefits the whole of Finland. With our logistics transports, we keep the Finnish society operational and smooth operation is an essential part of our country's security of supply. In a crisis situation, the connection to the world is secured by ships sailing under the Finnish flag and with a Finnish crew who knows the conditions.

Way of acting

Economic sustainability

Economic sustainability begins with work and the fact that the business is profitable. Eckerö Line has a total of more than 500 employees in Finland and Estonia. Eckerö Line has been awarded the Key Flag Symbol for service produced in Finland. Therefore, by purchasing a ferry ticket the passenger supports employment directly.

Our operations have direct and spillover effects on several Finnish and Estonian companies outside our industry as well. In 2019, our total passenger volume was approximately 1.9 million and the passengers' consumption behaviour both at sea and on land affects local companies and people., Our passengers use, for example, the restaurant and public transport services at the destinations.

We are open to collaboration with various actors, such as the ports of Helsinki and Tallinn, tour operators and event organizers and local educational establishments, and we develop our existing collaborations for ever-changing needs and situations. We hope to encourage and promote diversified local business and entrepreneurship.

Communication and marketing 

We strive for informative, open and responsible communication that serves our diverse customer base. Our sustainability themes have been documented in our annual marketing plan. We introduce these themes as planned with multichannel approach on our communication channels.

Our marketing is based on legislation and ethical rules of the game, such as the ICC Marketing Code of the International Chamber of Commerce. We want to be honest and fair in our marketing, and listen to the customer with a sensitive ear.

Partners and procurement

At Eckerö Line, we want to be a reliable partner for all suppliers and invest in long-term partnerships. We also want our suppliers and partners to comply with the same ethical principles that we follow.

Our procurement is governed by the company's official procurement guidelines and purchasing directive, as well as the Group's ethical guidelines for suppliers. These help to ensure high-quality and responsible purchasing processes throughout our organization.

In procurement, the way we operate is transparent, fair and responsible. We comply with the laws and regulations that apply to us in our procurement. Crucial applicable laws include, for example, the Contractor's Liability Act, the VAT Act, customs regulations, the Excise Duty Act and food legislation. When it comes to food, services and consumer goods, we favour local suppliers and manufacturers. We prefer eco-labelled products and materials. We take the life cycle of our purchases into account, and strive to repair the old one before purchasing a new one. We recycle discarded products and materials.

Our procurement policy and quality requirements

Local and seasonal thinking

We prefer domestic and locally produced products whenever it is appropriate and economically sound. We embrace seasonal thinking when choosing ingredients and creating menus for our restaurants. The harvest season is strongly reflected in the Eckerö Buffet menu, for example, which changes six times a year.

Sustainable fish

We always buy fish and seafood products from responsible suppliers and sustainable fish stocks. We prefer MSC certified products and we always buy certified shrimps, herring, tuna and cod.

Origin of meat and dairy products

Most part of all meat and meat products that we use come from responsible Finnish breeders. As to dairy products, we prefer domestic ingredients and cooperate with the Finnish milk company Valio. Our food wholesaler has committed to refrain from eggs from hens in furnished cages by the end of 2025.

The Steps to Organic programme

We prefer organic products and take part in the Steps to Organic programme. The filter coffee served onboard is Kulta Katriina organic by Meira and at breakfast we serve organic oatmeal porridge. In the Steps to Organic programme m/s Finlandia is on step 4 and m/s Finbo Cargo on step 2.

Disposable items

We minimize the use of disposable items and we always strive to use reusable utensils and cutlery in our restaurant services. Necessary packaging and disposable materials have been replaced by ecological alternatives made from renewable or recycled materials. In ship restaurants, we also use biodegradable napkins made in Finland by the Finnish family business Fiblon.

Services and production

Regarding services and outsourced labour, we monitor that the requirements of the Contractor's Liability Act are met. Documents in accordance with the Contractor's Liability Act are requested before the cooperation and regularly during it. When we arrange ship services and events, we favour local partners and strive for year-long procurement of services. We also target demand outside the high season and encourage our customers to extend their stay.

Economic sustainability

Economic sustainability begins with work and the fact that the business is profitable. Eckerö Line has a total of more than 400 employees in Finland and Estonia. Eckerö Line has been awarded the Key Flag Symbol for service produced in Finland. Therefore, by purchasing a ferry ticket the passenger supports employment directly.

Our operations have direct and spillover effects on several Finnish and Estonian companies outside our industry as well. In 2019, our total passenger volume was approximately 1.9 million and the passengers' consumption behaviour both at sea and on land affects local companies and people., Our passengers use, for example, the restaurant and public transport services at the destinations.

We are open to collaboration with various actors, such as the ports of Helsinki and Tallinn, tour operators and event organizers and local educational establishments, and we develop our existing collaborations for ever-changing needs and situations. We hope to encourage and promote diversified local business and entrepreneurship.

Communication and marketing 

We strive for informative, open and responsible communication that serves our diverse customer base. Our sustainability themes have been documented in our annual marketing plan. We introduce these themes as planned with multichannel approach on our communication channels.

Our marketing is based on legislation and ethical rules of the game, such as the ICC Marketing Code of the International Chamber of Commerce. We want to be honest and fair in our marketing, and listen to the customer with a sensitive ear.

Partners and procurement

At Eckerö Line, we want to be a reliable partner for all suppliers and invest in long-term partnerships. We also want our suppliers and partners to comply with the same ethical principles that we follow.

Our procurement is governed by the company's official procurement guidelines and purchasing directive, as well as the Group's ethical guidelines for suppliers. These help to ensure high-quality and responsible purchasing processes throughout our organization.

In procurement, the way we operate is transparent, fair and responsible. We comply with the laws and regulations that apply to us in our procurement. Crucial applicable laws include, for example, the Contractor's Liability Act, the VAT Act, customs regulations, the Excise Duty Act and food legislation. When it comes to food, services and consumer goods, we favour local suppliers and manufacturers. We prefer eco-labelled products and materials. We take the life cycle of our purchases into account, and strive to repair the old one before purchasing a new one. We recycle discarded products and materials.

Our procurement policy and quality requirements

Local and seasonal thinking

We prefer domestic and locally produced products whenever it is appropriate and economically sound. We embrace seasonal thinking when choosing ingredients and creating menus for our restaurants. The harvest season is strongly reflected in the Eckerö Buffet menu, for example, which changes six times a year.

Sustainable fish

We always buy fish and seafood products from responsible suppliers and sustainable fish stocks. We prefer MSC certified products and we always buy certified shrimps, herring, tuna and cod.

Origin of meat and dairy products

Most part of all meat and meat products that we use come from responsible Finnish breeders. As to dairy products, we prefer domestic ingredients and cooperate with the Finnish milk company Valio. Our food wholesaler has committed to refrain from eggs from hens in furnished cages by the end of 2025.

The Steps to Organic programme

We prefer organic products and take part in the Steps to Organic programme. The filter coffee served onboard is Kulta Katriina organic by Meira and at breakfast we serve organic oatmeal porridge. In the Steps to Organic programme m/s Finlandia is on step 4 and m/s Finbo Cargo on step 2.

Disposable items

We minimize the use of disposable items and we always strive to use reusable utensils and cutlery in our restaurant services. Necessary packaging and disposable materials have been replaced by ecological alternatives made from renewable or recycled materials. In ship restaurants, we also use biodegradable napkins made in Finland by the Finnish family business Fiblon.

Services and production

Regarding services and outsourced labour, we monitor that the requirements of the Contractor's Liability Act are met. Documents in accordance with the Contractor's Liability Act are requested before the cooperation and regularly during it. When we arrange ship services and events, we favour local partners and strive for year-long procurement of services. We also target demand outside the high season and encourage our customers to extend their stay.

 Safety

New liferafts are set up on m/s Finlandia during docking on January 2019.

The cornerstones for safety of ship-related operations are defined in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). Our practical safety work is governed by ISM (International Safety Management) and ISO14001 (Environmental Management System). Detailed safety plans have been drawn up for m/s Finlandia and m/s Finbo Cargo. The goal is for ships to be safe for passengers and ship personnel, property and cargo, and the environment. It is supported by ground operations in our offices in Helsinki, Tallinn and Mariehamn. Ships are subject to continuous monitoring and maintenance during their operations. They visit the shipyard every two years. 

The personnel onboard are trained for emergencies with mandatory weekly exercises and they each have a well-defined safety function. A number of exercises and inspections are also carried out annually together with various authorities, with the emphasis on safety in terms of ship condition, staff competence and customer guidance. Safety is always our priority.

Exceptional situations, such as COVID19, also create safety challenges of their own. The procedures to help prevent the virus from spreading and the customer information were very rapidly created for our ships. As the pandemic has expanded, more actions have been added to ensure as safe as possible travel experience for our customers and at the same time a safe working environment for the whole personnel.