Fortum's material sustainability topics
Fortum’s double materiality assessment helps us identify the sustainability topics that matter most to our business and stakeholders. The assessment is updated annually in line with ESRS 1 and brings together input from business units and relevant internal functions across the Group. It looks at both our impacts on people and the environment, and the sustainability-related risks and opportunities that may affect Fortum’s business. The results are reviewed at group level and support our sustainability reporting, governance and decision-making.
Environmental
- Climate change
- Pollution
- Biodiversity
- Resource use and circular economy
Social
- Own workforce
- Value chain workers
- Affected communities
- Consumers and end users
Business conduct
- Corruption and bribery
- Management of relationships with suppliers
Environmental sustainability
Climate change is one of the global megatrends that is driving changes in Fortum’s operating environment. The European Union is aiming for climate neutrality by 2050 and is committed to a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. In 2025, 99% of Fortum's power generation was from renewable (hydro and wind) and nuclear sources. The international Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has validated Fortum’s near-term and long-term science-based emission reduction targets, and the science-based net-zero target by 2040.
Energy production generates emissions to the environment. Fortum controls emissions to air, water and soil caused by its operations and aims to reduce environmental impacts by fuel switching and by using technological solutions and flue gas cleaning technologies.
The degradation of biodiversity is one of the greatest environmental problems globally. All business operations, including Fortum’s, have an impact on biodiversity. Fortum acknowledges the need to identify and take responsibility for its impacts on, and dependencies related to biodiversity and ecosystem services.
A transition towards circular economy is necessary to ensure availability of natural resources, and it is essential for fighting climate change. Fortum produces radioactive waste in its own and co-owned nuclear power plants. In addition, conventional non-hazardous and hazardous waste is produced in power plants and other own operations.
Social sustainability
Social sustainability at Fortum focuses particularly on employees, workers in the value chain, communities around Fortum’s sites, as well as consumers and end users. The health and safety of employees and value chain workers working at Fortum’s sites is a top priority. Fortum takes privacy and protection of personal data of both its own workforce and consumers seriously. Fortum also systematically develops the human rights due diligence process further to address potential negative impacts, as well as collaborates with communities and organisations at global, national and local levels through the Corporate Social Responsibility programme.
Business conduct
Fortum complies with all applicable national and international laws, regulations and conventions in the countries where it does business. Fortum also follows common practices for sound corporate governance. Legal compliance policies include frameworks towards anti-bribery and corruption, competition, economic sanctions, employment, energy markets, the environment, health and safety, insider regulations, market abuse, money laundering, securities trading and tax evasion. Supplier relationship management is essential in managing sustainability and compliance in the supply chains.