Picture: @Laura Vanzo / Visit Tampere
Property, Security and Sustainability Manager, Marko Koivisto, has worked at Tampere Hall since the congress centre began operations.
“With 675,000 visitors per year, the functionality of the premises and the choice of products is very important. Toilets and hygiene solutions represent an essential service to our customers,” Koivisto says.
Tampere Hall’s cooperation with Metsä-Tissue has been one of mutual learning and improvement.
“Over the years, our needs have changed, and they have always been met.”
A pioneer in responsibility
Tampere Hall started building its environmental programme back in 1992, the first congress hall in the world to do so.
“We found that we used a lot of energy, so we also had a financial incentive to save costs. The then Congress Manager, Anja an Aerschot, saw that congress halls could be pioneers in responsibility. So, we set out to take the matter forward with the International Association of Congress Centres (AIPC). That’s the spirit we’ve been trying to promote all these years,” Koivisto explains.
Thanks to its own solar power plants, Tampere Hall is today a carbon-neutral operator without any offset, able to offer its customers the opportunity to hold carbon-neutral events.
Tampere Hall considers different aspects of responsibility in its operations: economic, environmental and social responsibility. In practice, responsibility manifests itself in many ways, including ensuring availability and accessibility and having a rooftop garden with beehives.
Katrin products are among the responsible choices at Tampere Hall.
“We have the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, and we appreciate the fact that also our partner has it, as a demonstration of their environmental responsibility. For us, Katrin products are local products manufactured less than 100 kilometres away. We also strive to keep the distribution costs and carbon footprint small by ordering large factory delivered batches through the distributor. Sometimes we place a joint order with our neighbour, the Marriott Hotel, that also uses Katrin products,” Koivisto says.
Quality and efficiency
Tampere Hall has chosen products that reduce the cleaners’ workload.
“The work is reduced by dispensers that hold the maximum amount of paper towels, as this minimises the need for refill rounds. The rolled towels match our capacity, and the toilet paper dispensers allow leeway. In the soap dispensers, we use antibacterial, odourless foam detergents because foaming increases the filling interval,” says Koivisto, listing the choices that make up the reduction in workload.
The sanitary facilities of the 30-something building are to be renovated in phases. The women’s toilet located on the ground floor was once chosen as the most comfortable in Finland, and the goal has also been set high this time.
“Katrin products are of excellent quality and, according to customer feedback, also comfortable to use. Katrin will continue to be our chosen hygiene solution,” concludes Koivisto.