Case Study: How Veljekset Toivanen Turned ESG Compliance into a Strategic Commitment (and Saved 50% Time)

Veljekset Toivanen is a major player in the Finnish construction and built environment business. Founded in 1983, this family-owned company has grown from a local excavating business to a major industrial partner operating across Finland and Northern Sweden. With €63 million in revenue, 400 employees, and over 200 units of heavy machinery, their value chain is complex—spanning everything from mining services and underground cabling to factory maintenance.

For a company with such a heavy operational footprint, sustainability isn’t just a reporting exercise; it’s a daily reality involving fuel, chemicals, safety, and local communities.

The Challenge: Beyond the Spreadsheet

Facing the upcoming customer requirements related to sustainability, Veljekset Toivanen needed a Double Materiality Assessment (DMA). But they didn’t want a “black box” consultant report that would sit on a shelf.

Their goal was ambitious: To integrate sustainability directly into their strategic decision-making. They needed a process that would:

1. Engage their diverse stakeholders (from mine workers to board members).
2. Identify true risks and opportunities, not just generic ESG topics.
3. Do it efficiently, without paralyzing their leadership team for months.

The Solution: ExecutESG as the Commitment Engine

Veljekset Toivanen utilized the ExecutESG Sustainable Decision Support System (DSS) to run their DMA. Instead of top-down mandates, they used our proprietary bottom-up methodology.

How it worked:

Process Owner Heidi Kauppila led an analysis that engaged four critical stakeholder groups: Employees, Management & Board, Customers, and Suppliers.

Using our Pairwise Comparison tool, these stakeholders were asked to prioritize impacts based on reality, not theory. This “forced choice” method cut through the noise and produced a clear, data-driven consensus.

The Findings: Radical Honesty & Strategic Alignment

The data from the final report reveals a company willing to look in the mirror. Because the process guaranteed anonymity and ease of use, stakeholders provided unfiltered insights:

1. The “Social License” is Strong (Positive Impacts)

The analysis revealed a deep alignment on values. Both Suppliers and Management ranked “Equal treatment of employees” and “Use of local subcontractors” as top priorities. This confirms Veljekset Toivanen’s role as a vital regional economic engine in Northern Finland.

2. Confronting the Hard Truths (Negative Impacts)

Unlike “green-washed” reports, the DSS surfaced genuine operational risks. Stakeholders honestly flagged:

• Chemical/Fuel Risks: The potential for chemical leaks from equipment breakage and exposure to hazardous substances was ranked as the top negative impact by both Employees and Suppliers.
• Emissions: The Board explicitly acknowledged that fuel consumption and emissions are significant.

3. Financial Reality (Risks & Opportunities)

The assessment didn’t stop at “Impact.” It connected ESG directly to the P&L:

• The Risk: The team identified a critical financial risk in “Pricing errors when calculating contracts”—a direct link between governance and profitability.
• The Opportunity: The analysis validated a massive strategic advantage: “High switching costs for satisfied customers.” Both Employees and Management agreed that quality service creates security because replacing Veljekset Toivanen is difficult for clients.

The Result: Auditable Commitment

By using ExecutESG, Veljekset Toivanen didn’t just get a compliant report. They got a strategic roadmap owned by their people.

• Efficiency: The AI-assisted process and digital engagement saved “more than 50% time and tens of thousands of EUR” compared to traditional consulting methods.
• Governance: Every input was recorded, creating the decision process audit trail required by auditors.
• Commitment: Because the risks (like pricing errors) and opportunities (like employee retention) were identified by the team, the commitment to fixing them is guaranteed.

Veljekset Toivanen has proven that heavy industry can lead on sustainability—if they have the right system to support their decisions.

---

Is your strategy defined by consultants or your own experts?

Stop paying for reports that no one reads. Build a strategy your team will actually execute.