Responsibility is common sense
For a long time, the buzzword in the corporate world has been responsibility (or sustainability). We may have become immune to the related terminology due to sheer overdose. Mechanically repeated words no longer resonate. We mechanically glance at things written on websites just because they're supposed to be there.
Alastek wants to bring the voice of practical common sense to the responsibility discussion. Instead of serving you a generic, consultant-guided sustainability speech, we highlight five truths about responsibility in our industry.
1. Every Finnish company is responsible at a minimum level—if not, the company wouldn't exist anymore.
In a global comparison, operating according to Finnish laws and generally required guidelines automatically directs a company toward responsible operations. However, meeting statutory criteria doesn't make a company a leader or trendsetter in responsibility.
We do not proclaim ourselves as pioneers with superlatives; instead, our responsibility philosophy is guided by sound judgment.
2. The most sensible choice is often made for selfish reasons.
Every one of us wants to find quality products for our daily lives that withstand time and wear. If a product breaks down under heavy use, it must be possible to repair it with easily available spare parts. And when a question about the product arises, it is valuable to reach a real person who can answer, instead of a bot.
As conscious consumers, we buy things from reliable operators for a genuine need. Practicality guides our choice. Why shouldn't we operate on the same principle in public or corporate procurements? So, use shared funds to buy things you would be willing to use yourself.
The most sensible choice is often also the most responsible choice.
3. If a product is suspiciously cheap, you should definitely be suspicious.
When was the last time you bought truly high-quality and durable items for a really low price? If the price seems too cheap to be produced responsibly, it probably is.
When the cheapest price guides the purchasing decision, you can be sure that one party will be mistreated. The surrogate might be an employee who doesn't receive adequate compensation for their work, or the environment, which we burden with long-distance logistics or unsustainable material choices. A responsible company's production simply cannot be the cheapest on the market.
When we buy a cheap product, we take a conscious risk: the lifespan is likely short, meaning the purchase was no longer economical, as a replacement will soon be necessary.
4. Domesticity gives a face—and that benefits you.
When you looked at points 1–3, you probably already concluded that choosing a domestic partner is not done based on the lowest price. In addition to design, the production is also domestic work—which is another strong responsibility argument. Even if a company is Finnish but the products are manufactured elsewhere, the company may not be able to disclose all important responsibility details to the questioner because they may not have precise information on everything.
We know what happens in our production, and our operating philosophy always includes stating the designer's name. If you wish, you can discuss the designer's choices directly—or through us: what were the decisive factors on the desk of a responsibility-minded designer at the moment the product was created.
5. Financial responsibility increases customer satisfaction.
In recent years, the responsibility discussion has largely been guided by a collective concern for the environment. Climate goals have been set, and roadmaps toward a better future have been drawn up. That is absolutely good.
However, as environmental responsibility has been emphasized, financial responsibility has received little attention. But if the company is soon gone, who will bear the responsibility for ensuring the end-user can be satisfied with the purchase?
Even a long warranty expires the moment bankruptcy occurs. Only a commercially successful company can stand behind the promises made at the time of sale. Innovations aiming for more sustainable production are only born within financially stable companies.
