Eco-social awareness

Eco-social awareness is among Kone Foundation’s values: to us, it means social, cultural and ecological responsibility for humans, other species and the environment.

Eco-social awareness manifests itself in many ways in our activities and their development. In 2017, Kone Foundation established the Kulla nature reserve in Kemiönsaari in order to compensate for the natural resources consumed by the operations of the foundation, and in 2021 we purchased 1,440 hectares of forest in Sanginjoki, Oulu, and immediately donated it to the Finnish state for conservation. The international Saari Residence for artists and researchers, maintained by Kone Foundation, is committed in developing its residency activities to be more sustainable on a long-term basis through experiments and continuous learning. Saari Residence’s goal is to be a forerunner in sustainable operating models within the international artist-in-residence sector. We also encourage our grantees to take ecological considerations into account in their own work, for instance by supporting slow travel.

Read more about our environmental work below.

Ecologically sustainable residency

The Saari Residence’s activities are guided by ecological sustainability, which also encompasses social and psychological sustainability. Through various study groups, discussions and workshops, we offer Saari residents the opportunity to contemplate ecological issues and make it part of their work and way of thinking.

Read more about our ecological sustainability

Sanginjoki forest deal signed – Finns should collectively protect forests to stop biodiversity loss

Kone Foundation purchased the Sanginjoki forest area from the City of Oulu and donated it to the Finnish State for nature conservation purposes. The Foundation’s wishes that a national park will be established in the area.

Read more about the conservation of Sanginjoki forest

Kone Foundation is restoring the Kulla nature reserve damaged by forestry activities

In 2017, Kone Foundation established the Kulla nature reserve in Kemiönsaari in order to compensate for the natural resources consumed by the operations of the foundation. Now we are restoring the area to protect the biodiversity of the forest.

Read more about the restoring of Kulla nature reserve

Kone Foundation measured its carbon footprint: grantees’ flights for work purposes constituted more than half of the Foundation’s emissions

The study assessed the emissions resulting from the commutes of Kone Foundation’s grantees, residents and staff, as well as the emissions from the Foundation’s properties and from events and acquisitions.

Read more about the carbon footprint study