Hanken receives funding for enabling Finnish companies' green growth and increased competitiveness

According to the research group sustainability is no longer just an ethical choice but a business imperative for Finnish companies striving to remain competitive in global markets. SMEs in Finland face increasing pressure to adopt environmentally and socially responsible practices. However, turning sustainability into profitability is a major challenge. 

“Our work focuses on two key areas. First, we identify the primary barriers SMEs face in marketing and selling sustainable offerings profitably. Second, we investigate how SMEs can quantify and communicate the value of sustainability, aligning their offerings with market demands in Finland and internationally”, says Mekhail Mustak, principal investigator and assistant professor at Hanken.

The one-and-half-year research project Green growth – Making sustainability profitable in business-to-business markets includes also Hanken researchers Kaj Storbacka, Mika Gabrielsson, and Sonja Sarasvuo.The research group will collaborate with SMEs from sustainable construction and renewable energy sectors and develop frameworks tailored to Finnish businesses’ unique needs.

“The goal is that this project will empower Finnish SMEs to grow sustainably and improve competitiveness”, concludes Mustak.