Sustainability
We are pioneers in responsibility
Shopping centre Ratina is owned by Sponda, whose vision is to be Finland’s leading real estate investment company. For Sponda, being a pioneer means responsibility: Sponda shares the top spot as the world’s most responsible real estate company in its peer group in the 2024 global GRESB assessment. The owner’s goals and actions are reflected in the daily responsibility practices of the shopping center, which we will tell you more about on this page.
We want to provide our tenants with the framework and opportunity for responsible operations in our property. We offer diverse sorting options and consultation on waste sorting. Our tenants use zero-emission wind power for electricity consumption, just like the entire shopping center. We are a BREEAM-certified property. We continuously work to maintain and improve the certification to an even higher level. Ratina is 100% carbon neutral in terms of operational energy consumption.
Energy efficiency and carbon neutrality
Ratina is completely carbon neutral in terms of operational energy consumption. The shopping center uses 100% zero-emission and renewable wind energy. Additionally, 100% renewable district heating and cooling are used for heating and cooling. The origin of the energy is ensured through origin certificates.
In addition to using renewable energy sources, as part of our energy efficiency program, we aim to reduce the energy consumption of our properties by 20% by 2030 compared to the average of 2016-2018.
Ratina shopping center is involved in our science-based emission reduction targets (Science Based Targets). These targets take into account not only the emissions of the property but also the emissions of the value chain, which are caused, for example, by property maintenance or space renovations.
Water
The water consumption of the shopping center is continuously monitored. In water fixture purchases, we follow our green procurement guidelines, which direct us to favor low-consumption water fixtures. The condition of the water fixtures is continuously inspected, and attention is also paid to them during annual energy rounds.
In the event of possible water leaks, property maintenance and management receive automatic alerts about leaks, allowing for efficient response to situations.
Environment and well-being
Ratina has been awarded the internationally significant BREEAM In-Use environmental certificate at the Excellent level. Environmental certificates measure and demonstrate the environmental friendliness, healthiness, and functionality of the building. This concretely means, for example, measuring and evaluating the building’s energy and water consumption, greenhouse gas emissions from material choices, the healthiness and comfort of indoor spaces, and the transportation connections of the building site.
The materials used in the shopping center emphasize indoor air health and safety. In minor repairs and tenant modifications, for example, low-emission M1-class materials and other environmentally friendly options are favored.
Recycling and waste sorting
At Ratina, we invest in comprehensive recycling opportunities, and the recycling rate of the shopping center is monitored monthly together with our waste management partner. The property has recycling points for energy waste, bio-waste, glass, metal, paper, cardboard, and clear plastic film.
In 2024, the recycling rate of the shopping center was 63%, meaning that well over half of the waste ends up being recycled and reused. The remaining portion is utilized in energy production. The more accurately everyone visiting or working in the shopping center sorts waste into the appropriate bins, the better the generated waste can be utilized.
Our shopping center has an environmental coordinator from L&T who guides our tenants in waste recycling. Additionally, there is waste sorting training on the staff intranet, which everyone completes.
Ratina also has good recycling opportunities for customers.
On level P1 of our parking hall, there are bottle return and recycling bins for small household electronics, energy waste, cardboard, paper, glass packaging, and metal.
Our tenants offer recycling opportunities.
In addition to the shopping center’s recycling arrangements, our tenants offer various recycling channels. For example, several clothing stores have recycling bins for clothing textiles.
Lindex stores accept all types of textiles regardless of their purchase location. The textiles must be dry, clean, and in a closed plastic bag. When a customer brings at least one bag of textiles to Lindex, they receive a 5-euro discount when making purchases of at least 30 euros. The discount is valid for three months. The textiles brought to the stores are further delivered to partners. In Finland, the partner is Suomen Tekstiilikierrätys.
Polarn O. Pyret accepts used PO.P clothes in its stores. The service is available to all PO.P+ members. The clothes must be intact and clean. Note! The care instructions and material information must be on the clothes for Polarn O. Pyret to accept them.
At Kappahl stores, customers can leave used textiles in Kappahl’s textile collection boxes, which are available in all Kappahl stores. The store accepts clothes, accessories, and home textiles as long as they are intact and clean.
At Reima stores, you can sell your unnecessary, good-condition Reima products back to Reima for a gift card and purchase used Reima treasures directly from the online store. The service is enabled by Reima’s partner Ninyes.
Lasten Into Second Hand & Shop offers the city’s largest and best selection of second-hand clothes and accessories for children. Customers of the shopping center can sell their used clothes and items at the Lasten Into Second Hand & Shop flea market on the third floor.
All Ratina’s eyewear stores, Nissen, Synsam, Instrumentarium, Specsavers and Silmäasema, accept used glasses for material recycling.
At Clas Ohlson, you can recycle lamps, fluorescent tubes, small electronics, batteries, ink cartridges, and toner cartridges.
Social responsibility
Various campaigns, such as Earth Hour and Baltic Sea Day, are prominently displayed at Ratina shopping center. Twice a year, we also organize the Hope collection.
Services for families with children: Kauppakeskus Ratina is the number one place for families with children in the center of Tampere. It is easy to move around with strollers, and there is plenty of fun activities both indoors and outdoors.
- Mini-Ratina playroom
- Mini-Ratina children’s park
- Mini-Ratina family club
- Katti Ratina’s music class
- Children’s restrooms
- Outdoor play area Ratina’s Joy (Riemu)
- Indoor play area Ratina’s Meadow (Niitty)
We also work closely with local actors and the city throughout the year. Ratina has an advance voting point, and for several years, the Loistoduuniin! recruitment event has been organized at Ratina, where the operators of the shopping center seek over 50 new employees for Ratina.
All our activities and interactions with different stakeholders are based on our ethical code of conduct, which includes themes such as respect for human rights, environmental protection, health and well-being, and safety and comfort in our properties. The same themes guide the activities of our stakeholders through the Code of Business Conduct.
Our stakeholders can report any unethical behavior observed in our shopping center through an anonymous Whistleblowing channel.
Principles of a safer space
All activities and events at the shopping center follow the principles of a safer space. The goals of open interaction, learning, and encounters are better achieved when everyone is met as themselves, and no one has to fear discrimination or harassment. Therefore, we ask all our visitors to follow the following principles.
Recognize your assumptions
Respect everyone’s right to self-determination. Try not to assume, for example, others’ gender, background, or opinions. Pay attention to your word choices and be aware of people’s diversity.
Listen and learn
Take every person, matter, and situation you encounter as an opportunity to learn and develop. Be open to the feedback given to you and try to adjust your actions based on it.
Give and make space
Recognize the role and position you are in different situations. Be actively present and enable the participation of others with your actions.
Act
If you see or hear harassment or other inappropriate behavior, you can contact the shopping center’s security at 050 5140279.
Remember humanity
Making mistakes and asking questions is allowed. You don’t have to know and be able to do everything in advance.
More infrmation
Would you like to read more or learn more about the measures that guide responsibility work in Sponda’s properties? Read more on Sponda’s website. The site also contains Sponda’s annual Responsibility Review, which provides more details on Sponda’s goals and progress in responsibility.
Get in touch
The Ratina shopping center team is happy to hear about your concerns, ideas, and initiatives regarding responsibility. Feel free to get in touch either directly or through the contact form. Contact details and the form can be found here.