The Sustainability Report shows how responsibility is reflected in everyday life, education, and campus operations. It is more than a document – it is a promise, visible in student actions, energy solutions, and future direction.
– Sustainability is not a separate part of our operations – it is embedded in everything we do: education, research, administration, and campus life. It is reflected in onboarding, procurement, and student guidance, says Riitta Tempakka, Chair of the Sustainability and Responsibility Development Group and Director of Services and Development.
The report offers a transparent overview of SAMK’s environmental, social, and educational responsibility. It was created voluntarily as part of a joint pilot model developed by Finnish universities of applied sciences. The report includes key results, accessibility goals, opportunities for participation, and concrete climate actions such as the adoption of LED lighting, recycling guidelines, and a sustainability onboarding programme.
Next, SAMK will continue developing its carbon roadmap. The aim is to create more comparable indicators to support decision-making and communication.
– We have aimed to make the report not just a document, but also a tool and a starting point for dialogue. It shows what we have done – and where we are heading, Tempakka emphasises.
Students actively involved
The leadership of the Sustainability and Responsibility Development Group will be transferred in autumn 2025 to Director of Services and Development Anne Holopainen, who sees sustainability reporting as a key part of SAMK’s strategic development.
– The Sustainability Report is a promise. It shows that we take sustainable development seriously and want to make it visible. In the future, we aim to make sustainability work even more participatory – for students, staff, and stakeholders, Holopainen says.
The report will not remain only on the website – sustainability will be visible in campus life in many ways. Information will be actively shared with students and staff through various channels. During the autumn, a student challenge campaign will encourage sustainable everyday actions, and a new podcast series will explore sustainability themes from the perspectives of SAMK experts and students.
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Highlights from the 2024 Sustainability Report
- 86% of campus energy is from renewable sources
- 33% of energy is self-produced
- 34% reduction in flight-related emissions
- 89.7% of total emissions are indirect (Scope 3)
- Around 700 organisations involved in SAMK’s research projects, many addressing sustainability challenges
- All degree programmes include sustainability themes
