Matkapojat Oy on sitoutunut kehittämään toimintaansa entistäkin vastuullisemmaksi. Vastuullisemman toiminnan kehittämisessä otamme mahdollisuuksien mukaan huomioon sekä ilmaston, ihmisten ja eläinten hyvinvoinnin, luonnon monimuotoisuuden vaalimisen, ihmisoikeudet sekä matkakohteiden kulttuuritekijät. Matkapojat Oy on Travelife vastuullisuussertifikaattiohjelman jäsen ja teemme nyt työtä askel askeleelta saavuttaaksemme kansainväliset vastuullisuusstandardit.
Vastuullisuustoimintamme ohjenuorana on Matkapojat Oy:n vastuullisuuspolitiikka.
Matkapojat Oy
Ari Penttilä
toimitusjohtaja, MD
Matkapojat Oy on saavuttanut Sustainable Travel Finland -merkin osoituksena arvokkaasta ja pitkäjänteisestä työstä kestävän matkailun eteen.
Amsterdam 4.7.2023
Travelife Certified -tunnustuksen vastaanotti tänään Matkapojat Oy (Suomi). Tunnustus on osoitus Matkapojat Oy:n pitkäjänteisestä työstä ja edelläkävijäasemasta kestävän kehityksen ja yhteiskuntavastuun alalla Suomessa.
Amsterdam, 14.4.2023
Travelife Partner tason tunnustus on luovutettu Matkapojat Oy:lle Suomen matkailualan liitto ry:n kevätkokoustapahtumassa. Tunnustus on osoitus Matkapojat Oy:n pitkäaikaisesta työstä vastuullisen matkailun puolesta ja sen yhteiskuntavastuusta. Matkapojat Oy täyttää yli 100 vastuullisuuskriteeriä, jotka koskevat Matkapojat Oy:n omaa sisäistä toimintaa, tuotevalikoimaa, yhteistyökumppaneiden vastuullisuutta sekä asiakkaille annettavaa tietoa. Travelife Partner tason standardi kattaa ISO 26000 edellyttämän yhteiskuntavastuun huomioiden myös ympäristön ja luonnon monipuolisuuden suojelun, ihmisoikeudet sekä työsuhteiden asianmukaisuuden.
Matkapojat Oy osallistuu EU-rahoitteiseen SUSTOUR projektiin, jonka tarkoituksena on vuosien 2020 – 2023 aikana edistää Euroopassa toimivien matkanjärjestäjien vastuullista toimintaa liiketoimintalähtöisesti. Projektissa on mukana yli 600 pientä ja keskisuurta yritystä 35:stä Euroopan maasta. Ohjelman myötä yritykset parantavat vastuullista toimintaansa saamansa koulutuksen, ohjauksen sekä vertaisoppimisen avulla.
Mr. Naut Kusters, Travelife for Tour Operators ohjelman johtaja kertoo: “Olen iloinen nähdessäni, että matkanjärjestäjäkenttä on saamassa vauhtia ympäristöasioiden hoitamisessa. Matkapojat Oy:n saama Partner tunnustus on omiaan innostamaan muita eurooppalaisia yrityksiä seuraamaan samaa polkua.”
Travelife on johtava kansainvälinen vastuullisuussertifikaatti matkatoimisto alalle. Yli 35 kansallista matkailualan liittoa edistää ohjelman käyttöönottoa jäsenilleen. Näiden mukana ovat mm. SMAL (Suomen matkailualan liitto ry), APAVT (Portugali), UHPA (Kroatia), ANVR (Hollanti), ABTA (Iso-Britannia), PATA (Tyynenmeren alue).
Yllä mainitun tunnustuksen myötä Matkapojat on oikeutettu käyttämään asiakasviestinnässään Travelife Partner Committed to sustainability -logoa.
Tallinna: Radisson Collection Hotel Tallinn, Original Sokos Hotel Viru, Park Inn by Radisson Meriton Conference & Spa Hotel Tallinn, Nordic Hotel Forum, Tallink City Hotel, Tallink Spa & Conference Hotel, Radisson Blu Hotel Olümpia, Tallink Express Hotel, Kalev Spa
Viro: Vihulan Kartano
Pärnu: Hedon SPA & Hotel, Hotel Pärnu
Tartto: Hotel Lydia
Riika: Radisson Blu Daugava, Radisson Blu Latvija
Joutsenmerkki on osoitus hotellin vastuullisesta toiminnasta. Merkki asettaa rajoituksia muun muassa hotellin energian- ja vedenkulutukselle, hiilidioksidipäästöille, jätteiden tehokkaalle lajittelulle sekä siivouksessa, tiskauksessa ja pyykinpesussa käytettäville kemikaaleille.
Maarianhamina: Ålandhotelsin Hotelli Pommern
GreenStar hotelliketjun kantava ajatus on hotellimajoittumiseen sisäänrakennettu
ekologisuus, jolla säästetään sekä ympäristöä että kustannuksia. Näin toimimalla
GreenStar tarjoaa vierailleen laadukkaan ja fiksusti kustannustehokkaan
majoituspalvelun suomalaisessa kaupunkikeskustassa. Tutustu lisää GreenStar hotelliketjuun.
Joensuu: GreenStar Hotel Joensuu
Jyväskylä: GreenStar Hotel Jyväskylä
Lahti: GreenStar Hotel Lahti
Vaasa: GreenStar Hotel Vaasa
- Viking Linella on vuodesta 2014 ollut käynnissä kampanja, jossa
lahjoitetaan osa laivojen myymälöissä myydyistä muovikasseista saadusta
tuotosta Itämeren ympäristötyöhön. Kassit valmistetaan kierrätysmuovista
ja vuonna 2018 päätimme lahjoittaa 50 000 euroa kahdelle
ympäristöjärjestölle: Pidä saaristo siistinä ry ja Helsingin yliopiston Itämerisäätiö.
- Viking Linen laivat eivät päästä mereen jäte- eivätkä pilssivesiä. Kaikki jätevedet pumpataan maissa
jätevedenpuhdistamoihin.
- Sen sijaan, että puhdistuksessa käytettäisiin ympäristölle haitallisia pohjamaaleja, sukeltajat puhdistavat Viking Linen alusten pohjat useita kertoja vuodessa harjaamalla.
Lue lisää Viking Linen vastuullisuudesta >>
Matkapojat Oy is committed to developing its operations to be even more sustainable. In the development of more sustainable operations, we consider, as far as possible, the climate, the well-being of people and animals, the preservation of biodiversity, human rights, and the cultural factors of travel destinations. Matkapojat Oy is a member of the Travelife sustainability certification program, and we are now working step by step to achieve international sustainability standards.
The guidelines for our sustainability operations is Matkapojat Oy's sustainability policy.
Matkapojat Oy
Ari Penttilä
Managing Director, MD
Matkapojat Oy has been granted Sustainable Travel Finland label as a recognition of valuable and long-term work for sustainable tourism.
Sustainable Travel Finland is a national sustainable travel programme managed by Visit Finland. It takes into account environmental, socio-cultural, and economic sustainability.
Amsterdam, July 4th, 2023.
The Travelife Certified award was received today by Matkapojat Oy (Finland). The award is a
recognition for the long-term efforts and frontrunner position of Matkapojat Oy regarding sustainability
and Corporate Social Responsibility in Finland.
Matkapojat Oy complies with more than 200 criteria, related to an operators’ office management, product range, international business partners and customer information. The Travelife standard is covering the ISO 26000 Corporate Social Responsibility themes, including environment, biodiversity, human rights and labour relations; and is formally Recognised as in full compliance with the UN supported Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria.
Matkapojat Oy participates in the EU-funded SUSTOUR project that runs from 2020 – 2023 and aims to promote sustainability among the European tour operator sector through a business led approach. The project supports over 600 small and medium-sized enterprises from 35 European countries in improving their sustainability performance through training, coaching and peer-to-peer learning opportunities.
Mr. Naut Kusters, manager of Travelife for Tour Operators, “I am delighted to see that sustainability in the tour operator sector is obtaining momentum. The Certified award of Matkapojat Oy will inspire other companies in Europe to follow the same path’.
Travelife is the leading international sustainability certification for the travel sector. More than 35 national travel associations are promoting the scheme to their members including, SMAL, APAVT, UHPA, ANVR, ABTA, PATA and more.
Amsterdam, April 11th, 2023.
The Travelife Partner level award was received today by
Matkapojat Oy. The award recognizes the long-term efforts of Matkapojat Oy regarding
sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility. Matkapojat Oy complies with more than 100 criteria, related to an operator’s office management,
product range, international business partners and customer information. The Travelife Partner
level standard is covering the ISO 26000 Corporate Social Responsibility themes, including
environment, biodiversity, human rights, and labour relation.
Matkapojat Oy participates in the EU-funded SUSTOUR project that runs from 2020 – 2023 and
aims to promote sustainability among the European tour operator sector through a business led
approach. The project supports over 600 small and medium-sized enterprises from 35 European
countries in improving their sustainability performance through training, coaching and peer-to-peer learning opportunities.
Mr. Naut Kusters, manager of Travelife for Tour Operators, “I am delighted to see that sustainability in the tour operator sector is obtaining momentum. The Partner award of Matkapojat Oy will inspire other companies in Europe to follow the same path’.
Travelife is the leading international sustainability certification for the travel sector. More than 35
national travel associations are promoting the scheme to their members including, SMAL, APAVT,
UHPA, ANVR, ABTA, PATA and more.
Matkapojat is Finland's largest seller of boat and trips to the Baltics and Scandinavia. We have been operating in the industry for more than 40 years. As a 100% Finnish owned business, it is important for us to operate in an ecologically, socially, and economically sustainable way. We have been worthy of the trust of our customers and partners since 1977 and we want to remain a high-quality and reliable company. We make sure that we keep up with the development and take care of the best possible travel arrangements from start to finish. Read more about how we are committed to sustainability.
A package
tour is a safe choice for passengers, as we follow the general package travel
conditions negotiated by the Association of Finnish
Travel Industry (SMAL) and the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority
(FCCA). In the general package travel conditions there are agreed, e.g. the right to
cancel the trip, the payment of the price and compensation issues. Matkapojat
Oy provides safety for you in unexpected situations around the clock. The
package tour is safe and reliable for the customer. Passengers without
companion and those who do not speak the language of the destination can also participate
our trips. Many of our tour packages by air include transportation to the
destination and the services of a Finnish-speaking guide. Planning a trip is
easy and you don’t have to worry about the details of your holiday trip.
We take responsibility for the environment and therefore minimizing the negative environmental impact of tourism is important to us. The greatest environmental impact of tourism consists of the mode of travel and the length of the journey, which can be influenced. Short-distance travel to the Baltics is more environmentally friendly and more ecological than air travel. Bus travel and group travel are a better option than private cars. We strive to fully sell our buses and do not drive empty buses. We choose partners who are active in sustainable development. Together with our partners, we have taken steps to enable safer bus travel.
Practical tips on the most sustainable choices:
• Travel to
short-distance destinations, e.g., to the Baltics or in Finland
• Choose a sustainable hotel
• Take advantage of public transport, such as a bus instead of your own car, explore the destination on foot or by bicycle
• Choose a modern fleet, e.g., low-emission LNG carriers, or new emission efficient aircraft if possible
• Direct flights
• Pack less and lighten the weight of your suitcase (Finnair: Packing 5 kg less can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 5%)
• Prefer local food and local services
• Turn off lights and extra electrical appliances when you do not need them
• Think about the need to clean and change towels daily
• Prefer tap water instead of bottled water where possible
• Avoid paper invoices and printed travel information
By choosing a Green Key hotel, you are involved in promoting more sustainable tourism. At least the following hotels in Matkapojat Oy production have the Green Key brand:
Tallinn: Radisson Collection Hotel Tallinn, Original Sokos Hotel Viru, Park Inn by Radisson Meriton Conference & Spa Hotel Tallinn, Nordic Hotel Forum, Tallink City Hotel, Tallink Spa & Conference Hotel, Radisson Blu Hotel Olümpia, Tallink Express Hotel, Kalev Spa
Estonia: Vihula Manor
Pärnu: Hedon SPA & Hotel, Hedon Spa & Hotel
Tartu: Hotel Lydia
Riga: Radisson Blu Daugava, Radisson Blu Latvia
In Finland the swan label is an indication of the hotel's sustainable operation. The brand imposes restrictions on, among other things, the hotel's energy and water consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, efficient waste sorting, and chemicals used in cleaning, dishwashing, and laundry.
Mariehamn:
Ålandhotels Hotel Pommern
The underlying idea of the GreenStar hotel chain is the ecology built into hotel accommodation, which saves both the environment and costs. By doing so, GreenStar offers its guests a high-quality and smartly cost-effective accommodation service in the Finnish city center. Read more about GreenStar hotels.
Joensuu: GreenStar Hotel Joensuu
Jyväskylä: GreenStar Hotel Jyväskylä
Lahti: GreenStar Hotel Lahti
Vaasa: GreenStar Hotel VaasaOur partner Tallink Silja has worked long-term for the benefit of the environment and the Baltic Sea. The principles of environmental protection are an important and integral part of the company's strategy.
- The new environmentally friendly Megastar (and My Star; starts operation during spring 2022) use LNG as fuel and complies with new and stricter emission regulations in ECA areas such as the Baltic Sea. The ISO 14001 environmental management system certificate awarded to Tallink Silja in 2008 will help to further improve environmental protection.
- In 2018, Tallink Silja started a food waste project with WWF Finland. The project will streamline the operations of ships’ kitchens to further reduce food waste.
- The MSC certification of responsibly caught fish and shellfish is a continuation of the Tallink Group's work supporting sustainable development. The certification allows customers to ensure that products labeled with the blue MSC eco-label in ship restaurants come from sustainable fish stocks and that sustainable fishing methods have been used in the fishery.
- The Tallink Group has taken steps to phase out eggs produced in caged hens by 2025.
Our partner Viking Line wants to be a pioneer in the utilization of new solutions that reduce environmental impact and works for the Baltic Sea in many ways.
- The newest ships in the Baltic Sea, Viking Grace (and Viking Glory; starts operation in March 2022), are characterized by modern design, concepts for the future, a high level of service and consistent environmental thinking. The Viking Grace was the first passenger ship in its size to use liquid, completely sulfur-free LNG natural gas.
- Since 2014, Viking Line has been running a campaign to donate part of the proceeds from plastic bags sold in ship stores to environmental work in the Baltic Sea. The bags are made of recycled plastic, and in 2018 the company decided to donate 50,000 euros to two environmental organizations: Keep the Archipelago Tidy and the Baltic Sea Foundation of the University of Helsinki.
- Viking Line's ships do not discharge wastewater or bilge water into the sea. All wastewater is pumped ashore wastewater treatment plants.
- Instead of using environmentally friendly primers for cleaning, divers clean the bottoms of Viking Line's vessels several times a year by brushing.
Direct
flights are a better option than stopovers. Whenever possible, our flights are
direct flights. Most of our flights are operated by Finnair. Finnair's
emissions have decreased every year due to operational improvements,
technological progress and precise route and fleet planning.
We strive to reduce the amount of waste and sort the waste that will inevitably be generated. Where possible, we strive to use nearby operators, services, or products. We strive to reduce paper usage and, in many cases, such as billing, we use electronic options.
Matkapojat Oy employs about 50 people a year and we also have a financial responsibility to take care of our company’s profitability, staff, and stakeholders. Matkapojat Oy comply with the collective agreement for travel agencies. Important values for Matkapojat Oy are fair collective agreements and the health, safety and training of workers. Matkapojat Oy adhere to the equality and non-discrimination plan. The workplace has a shop steward and an occupational health and safety representative. We offer free occupational health care and a lunch voucher for our staff.
On January 23rd, 2020, Matkapojat Oy signed the Helsinki Declaration.
The Helsinki Declaration is Finland's tourism industry's commitment to sustainable development. It is open to all tourism operators interested in sustainable development. The declaration is not a list of access requirements that should be 100% met at the time of signing, but a commitment by the company to take a more sustainable approach. By signing the declaration, companies / organizations commit themselves to the principles based on which they will each take their own concrete measures. The Helsinki Declaration was signed for the first time at the MATKA 2009 trade fair and has so far been signed by more than a hundred operators in the tourism industry. Domestic and international tourism, land, water and air transport, accommodation services, tour operators, travel agencies and program services are represented. There are also tourism organizations, associations, educational institutions, and the travel press. The Helsinki Declaration process is coordinated by SMAL (Association of Finnish Travel Industry).