According to the latest Corporate Responsibility 2025 survey by the corporate responsibility network FIBS, the environmental goals set by Finnish companies are significantly weaker than those required by international agreements. On the other hand, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), as well as human rights, are increasingly becoming a strong part of corporate agendas. Sustainability is also clearly influencing companies’ strategies, investments, and innovation.
Finnish companies’ environmental objectives are not aligned with the targets set by the Paris Agreement on climate change or the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Only 30% of medium and large Finnish companies have established nature-related goals for their operations, and just 14% aim for nature positivity in the coming decades. Less than half have set a net-zero target for greenhouse gas emissions, and only one in four plan to reach that target by 2035.
Despite these figures, 64% of companies believe that their sustainability targets are fully or mostly sufficient to meet the level of systemic change the world requires. Up to 70% believe their business activities will provide better living conditions for future generations and ecosystems. Nearly 80% of respondents report they have succeeded in reducing total greenhouse gas emissions based on their own measurements.
According to FIBS CEO Kimmo Lipponen, the actions companies are currently taking to address climate and biodiversity challenges are inadequate. The pace is simply too slow.
“To reach the globally agreed-upon climate and biodiversity goals, Finnish companies need to act more quickly and boldly,” Lipponen states.
He believes one reason for the sluggish progress is financial. Often, short-term economic interests take precedence over long-term environmental and social goals.
“The sustainability transition requires clear incentives for sustainable business and the simultaneous resolution of profitability and sustainability issues,” Lipponen emphasizes.
Companies Committed to Advancing Diversity and Human Rights
While some companies in the U.S. have reportedly scaled back their DEI programs—designed to foster inclusive and respectful workplace practices—Finnish companies appear to be taking a different path.
Nearly all the companies in the FIBS study say they are committed to promoting DEI. A growing number of top executives have publicly pledged to support DEI—77% in 2025 compared to 66% in 2023. The majority report concrete actions related to DEI, although only half have set clear goals in this area.
A growing number of companies are also addressing human rights. Some 87% of businesses report being committed to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. In most companies, top management is now committed to advancing human rights—75% in 2025, compared to 64% in 2023. Half of the companies conduct human rights risk assessments.
Sustainability Drives Strategy, Investment, and Innovation
According to the Corporate Responsibility 2025 survey, companies are ready to adapt their product and service portfolios, as well as their business models, to support sustainable development. As many as 76% have already produced innovations aimed at solving sustainability challenges. Nearly 90% have modified their product and service offerings, and over half report having sustainable products or services.
79% of companies have made investments where sustainability was the primary driver, and 40% have opted out of investments that were not aligned with sustainability. Three out of four have adjusted their business models at least partially to reflect sustainable development principles, and more than half say their entire business strategy is built around advancing sustainability goals.
How the Study Was Conducted
The Corporate Responsibility 2025 study by FIBS involved 183 CEOs or other executives from large and medium-sized companies. Of the participating companies, 24% are listed on the stock exchange. Responses were collected via telephone interviews or online surveys. The study was conducted by Innolink between November 7, 2024, and January 31, 2025.
The study examined how Finnish companies are addressing environmental issues, DEI, and human rights, as well as how responsibility is managed internally. It also looked at whether companies engage in political advocacy and whether they have sufficient expertise to address growing sustainability challenges.
About FIBS
FIBS (Finnish Business & Society) is a corporate responsibility network that supports companies in developing expertise on sustainable business practices. FIBS organizes trainings, webinars, and other events, drawing thousands of professionals and decision-makers annually. The organization also conducts research related to corporate responsibility.
Founded in 2000, FIBS is the largest corporate responsibility network in the Nordics and one of the largest national networks in the world. It includes nearly 500 member organizations, including most of Finland’s largest companies.
