Neste : joins the Smart & Clean project in the Helsinki capital region

Neste Corporation
Press release
May 26, 2016 at 11.30 a.m.

Neste joins the Smart & Clean project in the Helsinki capital region

Neste is a founding member of the Smart & Clean foundation for the Helsinki capital region, established by the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra. The purpose of the foundation is to develop the Helsinki capital region Area and Lahti into a world-class testing area for solutions that mitigate climate change.

The foundation focuses on producing and assembling projects to seek low-carbon solutions for traffic, food, housing and energy, among other applications. The aim is for the Helsinki capital region to function as a testing platform for low-carbon products and services for residents' and companies' everyday lives. At the same time, the region is a showcase for Finnish and international companies by introducing the best solutions to the challenges faced by cities. The region is hoped to attract investments, create jobs and support the emergence of new low-carbon business.

'Of the foundation's spearhead themes, traffic and moving are particularly close to Neste. We can, for example, support the aim of public transport in the Helsinki region not to produce any carbon dioxide emissions in the future,' says Simo Honkanen, SVP, Sustainability and Public Affairs at Neste and member of the Board of the Smart & Clean foundation.

'Our solutions already reduce greenhouse gas emissions from traffic by over six million tons a year around the world. In the United States, the cities of San Francisco and Oakland, for example, have considerably reduced their carbon footprint with our products. With the Smart & Clean cooperation, we will also support the cities in our home market in their own climate projects,' says Matti Lievonen, President and CEO of Neste.

The partners in the foundation include the Helsinki capital region cities Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen and Vantaa, as well as the City of Lahti and the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council. Other companies besides Neste include Caverion, Fortum, Gasum, Helen, Kone, St1, Vaisala and YIT, the research and educational institutions Aalto University, University of Helsinki, Lappeenranta University of Technology, VTT and Sitra, as well as the State of Finland. The foundation will operate for five years, and its activities are funded through donations and grants.

Neste Corporation

Kaisa Lipponen
Director, Corporate Communications

More information:
Simo Honkanen, SVP, Sustainability and Public Affairs, tel. +358 10 458 4170, simo.honkanen(at)neste.com

Sitra's press release: http://www.sitra.fi/en/news/carbon-neutral-industry/new-smart-clean-foundation-puts-helsinki-capital-region-forefront-clean

Neste in brief

Neste is a pioneer in oil refining and renewable solutions. We provide our customers with premium-quality products for cleaner traffic and industrial products based on world-class research. We are the world's leading producer of renewable diesel, and our annual production capacity is more than 2 million tons. We also are the world's largest company providing renewable fuel from waste and residues. Our sustainable operations have received recognition in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and the Global 100 list of the world's most sustainable companies, among others. Our net sales for 2015 amounted to approximately EUR 11 billion, and our shares are listed on NASDAQ Helsinki. Cleaner traffic, energy and life are moved forward by about 5,000 professionals. More information: neste.com