Responsibility
Responsibility is one of POAS’ business staples and values of our strategy. This means concrete actions from construction responsibility to ensuring our residents’ satisfaction. As a provider of rental homes, the quality and easiness of living are essential for us.
Our responsibility is based on the ethical guidelines, stakeholder expectations and megatrends affecting our operations. Through these perspectives, we have defined the four most important responsibility themes for us:
- advancing high-quality rental housing for students and working people
- investing in the well-being of our staff
- producing social well-being
- acting in respect towards the environment.
The 2024 Responsibility Report has been published!
In the Responsibility report, we describe the social, environmental and economic impacts of our operations and the related objectives. Last year, we improved our digital services, and customers were more satisfied with our customer service. Tenants have given good feedback especially about how we are handling the maintenance and repairs needs. Also, we scored well in the employees’ well-being survey, and our staff genuinely enjoy working with their closest colleagues. Read more about our responsibility objectives and actions in 2024 from the link below (available in Finnish only). The report is updated annually.
Social Enterprise Mark
In May 2021, POAS was awarded the Social Enterprise Mark! The Social Enterprise Mark indicates that the company was founded for a social purpose and most of the profit is channeled to social well-being. The Social Enterprise Mark can be awarded to companies whose primary goal is to solve social or environmental problems. It is also important to demonstrate the social effects of the company’s business, the openness of the operation and reporting on it transparently.
You can recognize products and services that promote Finnish work by the marks awarded by the Finnish Labor Confederation. The Social Enterprise label helps consumers to reliably identify responsible companies. Other marks awarded by the association are the Avainlippu and Design from Finland marks.
Environmental responsibility
At POAS, environmental responsibility means responsibility for the environmental effects caused by one’s own activities. The management of these effects is connected to POAS’s daily operations. Our goal is to improve current practices and find completely new operating models to make our operations more environmentally friendly. POAS’ board, management and every employee are committed to taking environmental issues into account in their own work. We maintain this by providing all those working at POAS with information, training and other tools for managing and developing environmental issues. Our goal is also to increase the environmental awareness of our residents and requires a commitment to environmental issues in accordance with our own values from all our partners.
Carbon neutral by 2030
POAS is a subsidiary of the city of Tampere, and we are involved in the Carbon Neutral Tampere 2030 goal. We have calculated the carbon footprint of our own operations in 2019, and the carbon footprint will be re-calculated regularly. It is still possible to significantly reduce energy consumption in our properties by utilizing energy efficiency, renewable energy and other measures, read more below.
Water and energy consumption of properties
- We take measures to minimize water and energy consumption. We use intelligent monitoring systems for water and energy consumption, and consumption can be optimized if necessary.
- We repair and renew water fixtures if necessary.
- All the electricity we use is 100% CO2 free.
- A reduction in consumption also requires participation from our residents. We have improved communication with residents and encouraged them to reduce their own consumption.
Repairs, construction and acquisitions
- We actively map out the possibilities of measures to improve the energy efficiency and carbon footprint of our properties.
- We carry out renovations and repairs in properties, which help to improve energy efficiency and achieve savings.
- We pay attention to responsibility factors when making purchases and acquisitions.
- We do not use fossil fuels. All our service vehicles run on either 100% electricity or bio gas.
- Responsibility factors and environmental friendliness are considered in all new construction. As far as possible, the new sites are built in accordance with the requirements of the A energy class.
Waste disposal
- Mixed waste, bio-waste, plastic, cardboard, paper, glass and metal are recycled in all our properties.
- We develop signage for waste points and recycling instructions.
- We encourage residents to recycle and actively communicate about it.
Social responsibility
POAS promotes social well-being. We offer affordable housing for students and working young people at the beginning of their career path. According to our strategy, our goal is also to develop and improve their housing situation in Pirkanmaa. We strive to increase the affordable housing stock every year and we keep the housing rents reasonable.
We are a responsible employer and local operator in Pirkanmaa. We belong to the Responsible Workplace program, where participating employers are committed to the principles of a responsible workplace. We introduce you to the work properly, offer meaningful work and development opportunities, and take care of the well-being of the personnel. We offer summer work for 10-12 employees every year.
We encourage our employees to donate blood. Blood can be donated during working hours four times a year.
We actively cooperate with social actors, such as educational institutions, student unions and various organizations. We support student activities and junior sports. Every year, we donate money to various socially important objects, such as supporting needy families with children. In 2022, we donated 5,000 euros to the Ukrainian disaster fund of the Finnish Red Cross.