The Port has reduced its own carbon dioxide emissions
The Port of Turku’s own emissions decreased significantly in 2025, but the emissions from construction increased. In the future, the Port will endeavour to affect the emissions of its supply chain in particular.
According to the 2025 carbon footprint calculation for the Port of Turku, its Scope 1 emissions have decreased to six tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). The figure for 2024 was 79 tonnes of CO2e.
Markku Alahäme, Technical Director of Port of Turku Ltd, explains that the reduction came from the initiated use of biofuels instead of diesel or heavy fuel oil in the Port’s own tractors, wheel loaders and other work machinery as of the beginning of 2025.
“The Port also has electric vehicles: a light truck, four vans and four passenger cars.”
Scope 1 includes direct emissions from the company, such as emissions from its own vehicles or boilers.
Heating emissions were zeroed
The Port’s Scope 2 emissions had an even more significant decrease. They were reduced from an annual 114 tonnes of CO2e to zero.
“We signed a contract with Turku Energia for zero-emission district heating produced using renewable energy with a guaranteed origin”, Alahäme says.
Scope 2 calculates indirect emissions from the production of purchased energy.
The Port of Turku uses carbon-neutral electricity, so there are no emissions from its electricity use.
Construction has an impact
The Port’s Scope 3 emissions increased from 2,700 to 4,025 tonnes of CO2e. This category includes indirect emissions from the supply chain, e.g. from purchased services. The scale covers everything from design to paving work.
“Scope 3 emissions increased especially due to the heavy construction and investments in the port. The largest single factor is the construction of the joint terminal. As a result of the increase in Scope 3, the total emissions of the three categories saw an increase.”
Tendering takes low emissions into account
Alahäme states that, in the future, the Port will particularly strive to reduce the emissions of its supply chain.
“As part of our competitive tendering for transport and groundwork this year, we adopted the practice of including the eco-friendliness of equipment in the quality assessment. Its impacts will then be assessed during the 2026 carbon footprint calculation.”
Alahäme explains that companies can often make rapid changes in their own operations, but influencing external actors requires long-term work.
“As the carbon footprint calculation continues to develop, it will enable us to more precisely choose the areas in which we should focus our investments”, he adds.
The goal is carbon neutrality
The aim of the Port of Turku is to be carbon neutral by 2029.
“We can achieve this goal through various compensations, if not otherwise.”
Compensations refer, for example, to the acquisition of carbon sinks, afforestation projects or the restoration of peatland.
“But for now, our primary focus is still on reducing our Scope emissions. Compensations will be considered as we get closer to 2029”, explains Markku Alahäme.
Text: Matti Välimäki
Photos: Markku Koivumäki
