Impaktly

We are excited to announce that the Nordic Business Diversity Index 2025 has officially been released and it’s already making headlines! Featured in a Yle article and on the evening news, this year’s Index is sparking important conversations about top leadership diversity across the Nordics. Congratulations for all top performing companies in the index, especially to Fiskars Group, Purmo Group and Exel Composites for ranking #1 in their respective Helsinki cap categories in the Nordic Business Diversity Index 2025! 🎉 Special thank you to Nathalie Ahlström, CEO of Fiskars Group, for sharing her thoughts on the importance of diversity in today’s evolving business environment. This year, the Nordic Business Diversity Index analysed over 10,000 board and executive members from 840+ companies across Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and Norway. 🌍 See the full report: link in the comments.

What is the Nordic Business Diversity Index Business Diversity Index and why are we doing it? The Nordic Business Diversity Index, by Impaktly, is the most extensive ranking focused on researching leadership diversity within Nordic listed companies. The Nordic Business Diversity Index 2025 explores the diversity landscape of top leadership in listed companies across Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and Norway. This year we have analysed over 10,000 board and executive members from over 800 companies. Since 2019, this Index has aimed to visualise what senior leadership looks like in the Nordics and raise important discussions about representation and inclusion. Its mission is to raise awareness and provide data-driven insights into the state of leadership diversity in the Nordic's largest organisations. When leadership reflects diverse backgrounds, it sends a powerful message that opportunity and success are not exclusive to a closed, homogeneous group. The Nordic Business Diversity Index 2025 launches on January 22nd, 2025. Stay tuned! 🌍

The EU's Gender Balance on Corporate Boards Directive is now in effect as of January 2025. This directive aims to ensure: 40% representation of women or the underrepresented gender among non-executive directors. 33% representation across all directors by 2026. However, there’s work to be done for some companies to meet the regulatory requirements. For instance, the 2024 Nordic Business Diversity Index revealed: 17% female representation on boards in Copenhagen Small Cap companies. 36% female representation in Stockholm Mid Cap companies. 38% female representation in Helsinki Large Cap companies. On 22 January 2025, the Nordic Business Diversity Index, by Impaktly, will be published, providing an updated analysis of the current state of corporate leadership diversity across the Nordics.

🎉 Year-End Reflections: A Challenging Yet Rewarding 2024 🎉 As the year comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on what has been a tough but rewarding journey. Despite the challenging market conditions, we managed to grow—an accomplishment we’re truly proud of. This year, we had the privilege of working with both long-standing and new clients on a variety of impactful topics, including: CSRD and CSDDD compliance, designing sustainability programs and KPIs, driving DEI initiatives, setting science-based targets, developing circular business models, conducting training sessions for stakeholders ranging from boards to factory staff. We also celebrated several milestones: - Launched Nordic Business Diversity Index - Collaborated with Hanken & SSE Executive Education on Decoding Sustainability - Partnered with Aalto University on Case Studies in Sustainable Business - Represented the UN Global Compact Network Finland Delegation at the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights - Hosted over a dozen webinars, engaging professionals from diverse industries Looking ahead to 2025, we’re thrilled about the exciting projects we have lined up across the Nordics, as well as the deepened partnerships that are shaping up. But for now, it’s time to wind down, spend quality time with loved ones, and recharge for the year ahead. ✨ Happy holidays from all of us at Impaktly! ✨ We look forward to making an even greater impact together in the new year. See you in 2025! #Sustainability #CSRD #CSDDD #DEI #CircularEconomy #BusinessGrowth #HappyHolidays

Lucia Day is meant to symbolise light, hope, and togetherness during the darkest time of the year. Yet, this year, it shed light on an issue, racism in Finland. Sadly, this is not new. According to the EU Fundamental Rights Agency’s Being Black in the EU (2023) survey, 63% of Black respondents in Finland reported experiencing racial discrimination in the last five years. Racism isn’t just an individual experience, it’s a systemic barrier: Hindering access to education and employment, Complicating the search for housing, and Threatening the integration of immigrants and their children into Finnish society. Hate crimes, harassment, and racist speech silence voices and create environments of fear. This is why we all are responsible for driving meaningful conversations and actions around equity and inclusion. We need light to outshine darkness.

While climate targets have been widely adopted, biodiversity targets have not. It’s time to close the gap. 🌲 Impaktly's Lead Designer, Juha Johansson, shares insights in our latest Impaktly insights on how businesses can unlock value through the Science-Based Targets for Nature (SBTN). Biodiversity is the next frontier in sustainability, and the SBTN framework offers a clear, science-driven pathway for companies to measure, mitigate, and manage their impacts on nature. Why does this matter? 🔹 Biodiversity loss threatens the ecosystems that fuel half of the global GDP. 🔹 Businesses can no longer afford to ignore the risks and opportunities tied to nature. 🔗 Find the full Impaktly Insights in the comments below! #ScienceBasedTargetsforNature

Impaktly’s Managing Partner Mia Folkesson and Suvi Halttula recently joined the UN Global Compact Network Finland delegation at one of the world’s largest business and human rights forums in Geneva. Mia shared her key findings in a blog post for UN Global Compact Network Finland (link in comments), but here are 4 takeaways that stood out: 💡 Human rights are now a business imperative. It’s no longer about “if” but “how” businesses rise to meet growing expectations. 💡 Binding regulations bring accountability and complexity. While they level the playing field, small businesses may face new challenges in navigating these changes. 💡 Lessons from the past matter. Human rights due diligence must drive real change not just compliance. 💡 Collaboration is essential. Governments, businesses, employees, unions, and communities must align to ensure fair and effective action. As regulations like #CSDDD evolve, how can businesses, especially SMEs, meet these regulatory requirements efficiently? Let’s build businesses that respect people and planet.

Reflections from the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights – Days 1 & 2 Focus in Geneva #UNBHR is the need for a “smart mix of measures” to advance human rights in business. Discussions around CSDDD implementation focus on practical next steps, but much of the buzz is in the corridors—centered on the potential EU omnibus approach and its far-reaching implications. This approach could redefine the regulatory landscape, but will it drive progress or add complexity? As the forum unfolds, Impaktly will be watching how these debates translate into action. #CSDDD #humanrights #duediligence

Impaktly is proud to attend the UN's annual Business and Human Rights Forum in Geneva, as part of the business delegation of UN Global Compact Network Finland. The event brings together businesses, states, and civil society to discuss pressing topics and challenges in advancing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights #UNGP. If you want to connect in Geneva, get in touch with Suvi Halttula or Mia Folkesson! #UnitingBusiness #UNForumBHR #BizHumanRights

We conducted a study on how top 10 Finnish companies report on sustainability in relation to planetary boundaries to celebrate the beginning of Global Donut Days 2024 by Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL). 🌍 The results of the study reveal a striking gap: while climate action receives significant attention, other critical boundaries like biodiversity loss and ecosystem health remain underrepresented—even though we’re already beyond safe limits in these areas. 💚 This sweet occasion invites us not only to enjoy donuts but also to reimagine our world through Doughnut Economics: a vision of sustainable prosperity where humanity meets its needs within the planet’s ecological limits. Through our Advisory, Agency, Academy, and Tech services, we’re committed to supporting companies across all aspects of sustainability—not just carbon. By taking a more holistic impact, we can help organisations align their actions with the full scope of planetary needs, creating resilience and long-term value.