Environmental Responsibility

Caring for the environment and nature is an integral aspect of Marimekko’s business. Environmental impacts are taken into consideration in the choice of raw materials, chemicals and working methods. The materials used in the products are tested regularly. Agreements require subcontractors and other partners to commit themselves to shouldering their environmental responsibilities. In relation to the EU’s REACH Regulation (a regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemical substances), Marimekko is a downstream user who does not have the obligation to register. All substances used at the Herttoniemi textile printing factory have been pre-registered. As an importer of articles from outside the EU, Marimekko is, under certain conditions, obliged to inform the European Chemicals Agency and downstream users if a product imported by it contains a specified amount of a substance causing specific concern. The most important environmental aspects of Marimekko’s operations are related to energy and water consumption and waste.

Marimekko seeks to save energy by developing its production methods, investing in energy-efficient machinery and equipment, and monitoring energy consumption. A significant part of the machinery and equipment at the Herttoniemi textile printing factory were replaced in 2004–2008, including a new printing machine, screen-making equipment, textile steamer, automatic colour kitchen, stenter frame and new fabric inspection machines. Thanks to a waste heat recovery system at the Herttoniemi textile printing factory, most of the heat released during production can be used to heat the production premises. In manufacturing, direct natural gas heating is used in process heat production. In 2009, power consumption in Marimekko’s Herttoniemi textile printing factory and property was 2,275 MWh, heating energy consumption was 2,392 MWh and natural gas consumption was 4,121 MWh. Water consumption was 28,501 m3. Water consumption is minimised in the printing process by recycling water whenever possible.

Marimekko’s production processes do not generate any waste that is classified as hazardous or detrimental to health. The amount of mixed waste is minimised by sorting and recycling. The recovery of packaging is arranged in accordance with the EU packaging directive. The ecological aspects of product packaging are becoming increasingly important at Marimekko.

The company has identified warehousing, distribution and logistics as one of the key areas in the development of social responsibility in the next few years. In the long term, the goal is to minimise the transport mileage. The first step will be to reduce transportation between Marimekko’s factories and subcontractors. So far, the realisation of this objective cannot be monitored sufficiently precisely, as the organisation of reporting related to transport mileage is in progress.