The Nordic Swan Ecolabel awarded to Tampere Hall according to the new criteria

The Nordic Swan Ecolabel is awarded to products and services that meet ambitious environmental requirements. In the criteria, the environmental impact of products and services is examined comprehensively and based on life cycle thinking. The Nordic Swan Ecolabel aims to curb climate change, supports the preservation of natural diversity, and promotes resource efficiency and circular economy. Supported by the authorities of all Nordic countries, the Nordic Swan Ecolabel is the official and most well-known environmental label in its market area.

The criteria for the label are revised approximately every five years. Among other things, new environmental information, technological development and the market situation are taken into account in order to continuously develop products and services in a more environmentally friendly direction. When the criteria are tightened, even a company that has achieved the mark once will not have an easy time with a repeated application.

”The renewed criteria for restaurants and congress centers challenged even an operator like us, who has done long-term environmental work, in a positive but tangible way,” says Marko Koivisto, Tampere Hall´s Property, Security and Sustainability Manager. “Renewing the licence requires a critical review, concrete actions and guidelines for our own activities – how can we act even more environmentally friendly?”

When other congress centers are not yet this far along in the process, the first applicant to the new criteria has to do a kind of pioneering work. Ecolabelling Finland, which manages the Nordic Swan Ecolabel in Finland, receives praise from Koivisto for its good cooperation.

“The communication was close, and Malin Lindfors, who audited our application, helped us a lot during the application process – but didn’t let us off the hook either,” smiles Koivisto. “Compared to the first application process, the portal’s tools have also developed significantly, which gives the process a lot of added value.”

The share of restaurant services in ecolabel´s criteria is essential. Tampere Hall´s Executive Chef Juhana Paturi worked together with Koivisto in the application process.

“When it comes to gathering the necessary materials, the process has become clearer,” Paturi thanks. “The work for the Nordic Swan Ecolabel also supports other aspects of responsibility. For example, the share of organic raw materials is reported in the same way as for the Organic Restaurant program. We already have approx. 30 significant organic products in regular use, e.g. all the coffee and tea we offer is organic.”

”Cooperation with Tampere Hall has always been smooth. Tampere Hall´s environmental work is impressive and comprehensive. I am particularly happy about the measures to reduce energy and carbon dioxide, e.g. solar panels and charging points for electric cars. The addition of organic products and the prevention of food waste have also been well taken care of,” says Malin Lindfors, Specialist for the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.

More info
Tampere Hall, Property, Security and Sustainability Manager Marko Koivisto, marko.koivisto@tampere-talo.fi
Tampere Hall, Food Service Manager Mika Sirkiä, mika.sirkia@tampere-talo.fi
Ecolabelling Finland, Specialist Malin Lindfors, malin.lindfors@ecolabel.fi