The city of Äänekoski plans to develop its eco support activities
Eco support staff do important everyday environmental work in their own unit
The city of Äänekoski has joined the national eco-support network and eco-support activities started in February 2022.

There are now eight volunteer eco support staff from all industries and units in the city. It is planned to grow the network and reactivate the activities within the framework of the Life-sustainable Äänekoski project, from where we left off in the spring of the previous project.
- Eco support staff activities will be continued as soon as possible. Currently, the network includes eight people from the city's seven different units, but the plan is to expand the operation. Eco support staff help to come up with ideas and try out measures that support the environmental and climate program of the city of Äänekoski, so they play an important role in implementing the program in the daily operations of the organization, climate coordinator Juho Liimatainen says.
Eco support activities are everyday environmental work that increases environmental awareness and enables the organization's strategies and environmental programs to become grassroots actions and practices. Thanks to its customization, eco support activities are suitable for many different industries and the activities are shaped according to the wishes of the unit.
With eco support activities, the city of Äänekoski supports and promotes the environmental responsibility of its industries and the city group. The activity is fun and communal, and it is based on volunteering. Trainings related to the topic are organized for eco support personnel and they think about various initiatives and development ideas for environmental and climate measures. Eco support staff can share the environmental knowledge gained from training in their own work community if they wish.
City employees are allowed to use their working time for activities half a day a month or one working day every two months.
"Activities that save the environment must definitely be easy and effortless in everyday life"

Matilda, eco-support person for the city of Äänekoski Koskinen feels that even in nursing work, small everyday choices can be made to reduce the environmental burden. Koskinen was filmed in the sensory room of the Äänekoski Senior Center, which has a nature theme.
Kuhnamo service center manager Matilda Koskinen, 32, immediately decided to join the activity when it became a message on the intranet last winter. The fact that some working time can be used for eco-support activities is a good advantage for Koskis, but it did not influence his decision to join.
– I am interested in environmental issues and reducing consumption. I wanted to know how I could have an even greater impact and how I could share knowledge with others in my work community, Matilda Koskinen says.
- There are many things in our work where we could save. In the healthcare industry, there is inevitably a lot of plastic and packaging waste. A lot of diapers, garbage bags, water and detergents are consumed every day. On the other hand, small things could really affect the amount of waste.
When a diaper is put in the garbage of the residents' rooms, the garbage is emptied, but if the diapers were collected in one garbage bag, then not every room would have a garbage bag. Something could also be exchanged for durable goods, such as bibs. Dishwashers and washing machines should always be fully washed and the lights should have motion detectors, because the lights are now on day and night in the corridors of the service building.
– If everyone in the work community participated in even small savings measures like these, the impact would be significant. And when the environment is saved, money is also saved, Koskinen says.
- On the other hand, I understand that nurses are already tired, and their workload should not be increased in any way. Actions that save the environment should definitely be easy and effortless in everyday life.
Koskinen has received a lot of information in the training and meetings organized for eco-support personnel, but he is looking forward to the continuation and other support for environmental issues in work communities.
– Äänekoski has already collected good ideas and now it is time to continue the good work, Koskinen sees
Climate coordinator Juho Liimatainen will take care of the expansion of Äänekoski's eco-support network and the continuation of operations in the future. If a city employee wants to participate in the activity, learn new things and influence their work community, they can contact Liimatainen directly.

Ball forward!
The city of Äänekoski issues a challenge that every unit/industry of the city nominates at least one person for eco-support activities. Will the crowd rise to the challenge?
The city of Äänekoski participates in the communication campaign of Central Finland's climate week by publishing a series of information on the climate actions of the city of Äänekoski on October 10-14.10.2022, XNUMX. The city of Äänekoski also wants to challenge its personnel, residents, companies and other parties to joint climate talks. A sustainable environment is also one of the most important goals in Äänekoski's city strategy.

For more information:
Environmental manager Hanna Ahonen, 0400 893 683, hanna.ahonen@aanekoski.fi
Introductory video about eco support activities: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZlfGsx3crI
News published 13.10.2022, modified 18.12.2023/12/48 at XNUMX:XNUMX