Decarbonising cities with courage, speed and simplicity
As cities worldwide set ambitious targets for carbon neutrality, KONE is deepening our commitment to sustainability and helping customers radically reduce emissions. Our new SVP Sustainability & Environment, Kirsi Simola-Laaksonen shares her insights on shaping the future of carbon-neutral cities.
Cities everywhere are on the quest to become carbon neutral by 2050. How will they get there?
The journey towards carbon-neutral cities is like training for a marathon. We need small, steady steps to reach the finish line. Cities must unite their policymakers, businesses, NGOs, and citizens around clear targets – and maintain their commitment over long term. This is critical, but not easy. It’s like every January when gym memberships spike and people get excited about getting into shape, but then by March enthusiasm has fallen away. The difference is that cities must sustain their momentum for decades.
Global disruptions like the pandemic, regional wars, the energy crisis, and extreme weather events also bring roadblocks to progress. But we cannot let these stop us. We need to keep moving forward to meet the ambitious climate goals together.
Everyone’s input is important, citizens included. In my own home, I’ve invested in geothermal heat pumps and use renewable energy. It’s true I live in a society where these kinds of decisions are possible, and for some people access to renewables or infrastructure gaps can limit what you can do. But if you do have the option to act, why not take it?
How is KONE helping cities reduce their carbon footprint?
In shaping the future of cities, KONE wants to be both a thought leader and an active participant. It’s never been just about selling elevators and escalators; we want to inspire our customers and partners and help brainstorm sustainable solutions along the way. One important approach is by demonstrating the business case for sustainability, such as through circular economy, and showing that sustainable practices make sense economically and environmentally.
In 2023, KONE showed what’s possible by becoming the first in the industry to achieve carbon-neutral manufacturing. Renewable energy solutions, like solar panels, were key to this success. We’re also switching our vehicle fleet to hybrid and electric models and have committed to sourcing 100% renewable electricity for our facilities worldwide by 2030.
Retrofitting and repurposing buildings plays a key role in achieving net zero carbon emissions and tackling the climate crisis.
Can you give examples of some innovative ways KONE is cutting carbon?
We have been leading the way with innovations to help our customers reduce carbon emissions and extend product lifetimes. One standout example is using regenerative drive technology, which KONE offered to its customers as the first elevator company. This technology captures energy when the elevator brakes and recycles it back into the electrical system. This can recover up to 20-40% of an elevator’s energy consumption, significantly improving energy efficiency, and leading into a smaller carbon footprint. Another breakthrough technology is the KONE UltraRope® hoisting technology that can cut elevator energy use by up to 40% in high-rise buildings.
Modernisation upgrades bring older elevators and escalators up to today’s energy efficiency standards. It is also important to care for the equipment: our predictive maintenance tools keep elevators and escalators running smoothly for longer.
What else does sustainability mean for KONE?
Leading in sustainability has long been KONE’s strategic ambition. And our goal is to act for the wellbeing of planet and people in every aspect. So, this doesn’t only include environmental sustainability, but also safety, diversity, equity and inclusion, and practices to ensure we are a trusted and transparent partner to everyone we work with.
While climate targets are a big focus in our 2025-2030 strategy, social and governance goals are also very important. That means tackling the climate crisis while promoting inclusion in a culture where we all feel valued and driving the highest ethical standards with everyone we work with.
One of our key social goals is increasing the representation of women in management. We’re aiming for 35% of director-level roles to be filled by women by 2030, and we’re currently at about 25%. I am proud to be among these women.
KONE is actively looking for innovative ways to reduce the emissions related to its products' materials and lifetime energy consumption.
What’s your view on the EU's new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)?
The European Union’s new reporting directive brings a lot of hard work and new requirements, but it’s a step in the right direction. While organisations will need to address hundreds of sustainability matters, much of the groundwork builds on data already being collected for frameworks like Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Science Based Targets.
What’s really valuable about CSRD is the broader, qualitative approach it takes, which helps connect the sustainability data back into the business context. For example, when we report on carbon emissions, it’s not just about the numbers; it’s about linking them with real-world impacts and climate strategies in ways that can drive meaningful progress.
How have your previous experiences prepared you for this role, and what has been your first impression working at KONE?
I had such a great welcome! KONE’s culture has felt really inclusive and supportive right from the start. You could also say we’ve really got the right tone at the top driving the sustainability agenda forward. And this commitment from our leaders isn’t just inspiring, it also gives me the momentum to work hard and excel in my role.
My 16 years at Citycon, a listed real estate company, have shaped the perspective I bring to KONE. It gave me first-hand experience of how KONE’s solutions can help customers address major priorities like reducing carbon emissions and improving operational efficiency. I have worked across various business functions, including IT, finance, business development, HR and sustainability. This experience taught me the importance of connecting diverse viewpoints and people, both inside and outside the company.
At KONE, sustainability also encompasses promoting equality, inclusion, and safety.
What are the most important factors in speeding up climate action?
Solving the climate puzzle isn’t going to be a one-company show, it will be about collaboration across companies, different sectors, and governments – bringing everyone along. And the heart of our success will be about staying focused on what drives real change. For me, it all comes back to KONE’s core: being the easiest to work for and to work with. For us it’s about speed, simplicity, and maybe most importantly, courage. We are ready to roll our sleeves and to unite various stakeholders. Let’s create more sustainable cities for the future generations together.
