SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

Kalajoki’s famous Hiekkasärkät sand dunes and the surrounding unique marine nature offer a wonderful setting for a vacation and plenty to do for tourists and locals alike. In order to maintain the attractiveness of our region in the future as well, we must incorporate responsible practices, services, and sustainable choices into our everyday actions. We want to promote sustainable, high-quality tourism and serve all our customers equally and in an environmentally-friendly manner, so that each of them can experience a memorable adventure in Kalajoki.

The Kalajoki Booking Centre is committed to promoting sustainable tourism and we are part of Visit Finland’s Sustainable Travel Finland (STF) programme, we`ve been certificated by company-specific responsibility STF-quality label. Through the programme, we commit to continuous development work and our own sustainable tourism action plan. Along with the STF programme, we have developed our own environmental programme. As a proof of this, we have been awarded the EcoCompass environmental certificate. We have identified the environmental impacts of our company and have committed to act responsibly and take environmental issues into account in our operations.

OUR SUSTAINABILITY PROMISE

At the Kalajoki Booking Centre, we promise to promote more economically, socio-culturally and environmentally sustainable tourism. With the environmental management system, we are committed to taking into account our environmental responsibility and the values and practices of sustainable development. We promote the principles of sustainable tourism as part of our everyday operations and encourage our customers and partners to do the same. We train our staff to act in accordance with our company values and environmental promise.

We favour local products and service providers, and we are committed to responsible procurement and operating methods. We minimise our waste and recycle as much as possible. We instruct the owners of the holiday homes we provide to ensure proper waste management at the properties. We also instruct and inform local customers and tourists to act in an environmentally-friendly manner. We act as an information provider in environmental issues between tourists, local operators, and the city.

CERTIFIED SUSTAINABILITY WORK

We have defined clear sustainability goals for the selected focus areas below, each supported by concrete actions.

Procurement

The goal is to minimise the purchase of gifts and promotional items distributed to customers, shift towards intangible gifts and acknowledgements, and choose producers/suppliers who demonstrate environmental responsibility.

Chemicals

The goal is to reduce the amount of cleaning agents used and, whenever possible, replace them with environmentally certified products.

Influence

Using our sustainability work to influence various stakeholders: holiday home owners, customers, employees, the city, the tourism association, subcontractors, and local businesses.

Logistics & Mobility

Reducing fuel consumption and aiming to decrease car use by planning cleaning routes as efficiently as possible.

Waste

Minimising the amount of waste generated in the office and recycling all office waste whenever possible.

Social Responsibility

Promoting equal, accessible, and customer‑oriented service that supports the local community, employee well‑being, and responsible choices in tourism.

Communication

Strengthening our role as an environmentally responsible communicator and influencer across the entire tourism area, and acting as an advocate for sustainable tourism.

OUR ACTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

We have reduced the amount of cleaning agents used in holiday home cleaning and, whenever possible, replaced them with Finnish, environmentally certified alternatives.

We plan the routes of our cleaning vehicles as efficiently as possible to avoid unnecessary driving, save fuel, and reduce emissions.

We prioritise local products, services, subcontractors, and workforce. We employ local young people for internships and summer jobs.

We make extensive use of local services, such as laundry, maintenance, waste management, entertainment, staffing, sports and recreation, marketing, and security services.

Our workwear consists of environmentally certified textiles made from recycled materials and sourced from a local provider.

We are transitioning towards a paperless office.

We minimise our purchases and shift to the most environmentally friendly promotional products available.

We recycle all waste generated directly from our operations and also guide visitors and holiday home owners in waste sorting and recycling.

We provide information about travelling to the area by public transport, moving within the compact tourism area on foot or by bike, and arrange connecting transfers from stations to events when needed.

As a work community, we participate in various environmental campaigns, such as Roskajahti and the Miljoona Roskapussia.

We regularly conduct customer and owner surveys to continuously improve our operations.

We aim to influence the development of the area by making environmental initiatives, for example to improve recycling opportunities and reduce water consumption in the tourism area.

We offer our services through multiple channels year‑round to ensure accessibility for all customer groups.

We act as an information point for both visitors and locals, providing guidance on the environment and local services.

We serve as an intermediary for sustainable tourism information between travellers and various stakeholders.

ENERGY SAVING TIPS FOR RESPONSIBLE ACCOMMODATION

Avoid changing preset room temperatures. Keep the windows and balcony door closed to keep the heat in. Air out the rooms quickly with cross ventilation.

Use water sparingly: take short showers and avoid running water unnecessarily.

Only wash full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine and use quick and economy programmes and lower washing temperatures. Use the tumble dryer/drying cabinet only when necessary.

Use the electric stove and oven efficiently, make use of pre- and post-heating. Keep the cooker hood on only when necessary. Use the microwave oven to heat and cook small portions of food.

Consider heating up the sauna only when needed.

Keep the lighting to a minimum and turn off the lights when you leave the room.

Use the fireplace to warm up the space and enjoy the atmosphere.

In the summer, cool the rooms efficiently: keep doors, windows and curtains closed during the day, take advantage of cool night air for ventilation, and avoid using heat-producing devices.