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KONE 2015 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
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INTERVIEW WITH THE CHAIRMAN
AND THE PRESIDENT AND CEO
Henrik Ehrnrooth (HE):
Yes, sustainability
is very broad and it has many dimensions.
We embed it in all of our operations, and it
is an integral part of our mission to improve
the flow of urban life. Every day, our People
Flow solutions help to address the challenges
created by urbanization, demographic change,
the need for improved energy efficiency and
increased safety demands.
How does KONE continue to make progress in
sustainable development?
HE:
First of all, our financial performance in
2015 was strong. We continued to grow on a
broad basis and in a sustainable way. We have
a strong order book and more importantly, our
good financial performance enables continued
significant investments in strengthening our
competitiveness and in developing sustainable
solutions and services.
In the second half of the year we announced
our new innovation strategy, which is designed
to ensure that we can meet the needs of
an urbanizing world, where the pace of
technological change is increasing. Digital
technologies can help us deliver new value
added solutions and services to our customers in
a more sustainable way.
WHAT DOES SUSTAINABILITY MEAN FOR KONE?
Sustainability is an integral aspect of how we
do business. Can you begin by explaining why it
remains a critical area for KONE?
Antti Herlin (AH):
Sustainability is part
of everything we do; it is not only about
environmental performance and safety. It
is about how we conduct our business and
work in society. Sustainability as a whole has
been important for KONE for as long as I can
remember, and it is something where we have
always looked towards the future.
At KONE, we want to contribute to better urban
living by helping people move around in and
between buildings, in ways that are smooth and
safe. A great deal of that is about sustainable
practices.
It is a must for business to operate in a
sustainable manner – and we need to
understand its different dimensions. For
instance, I have seen it going 100% hand
in hand with the philosophy of continuous
improvement.
My family has been involved in KONE since
1924, and sustainability is something that has
been with KONE for generations, which was
started by my great grandfather. It runs deep in
the KONE culture.
“At KONE, we want to
contribute to better
urban living by helping
people move around in
and between buildings,
in ways that are smooth
and safe. A great deal of
that is about sustainable
practices.”
-Antti Herlin
Chairman Antti Herlin joins President and CEO Henrik Ehrnrooth for a conversation on our progress in 2015.