Community involvement

Metso's presence in emerging markets is constantly growing and is reflected in new units being opened or existing ones expanded in these growth markets. Metso's local presence creates opportunities for jobs and business partnerships that are important and beneficial both to Metso and the local community. We encourage our units and employees to participate in a wide range of activities that bring well-being to the local community.

Sponsorships and donations are  examples of means we use to develop and maintain interaction with important stakeholder groups. The principles and practices covering this area are defined in our Code of Conduct and in Metso's Principles of Sponsorships and Donations.  We focus our sponsorships and support primarily on youth activities, science, research, education, and environmental and nature conservation.

SOS Children's Villages – a long-time partner of Metso

As a global company, Metso is operating in many countries where the well-being of children is severely endangered due to e.g. the loss of parents as a result of illnesses or abandonment. In many instances, non-governmental organizations can provide the needed services and experience to support children who otherwise lack their basic rights. SOS Children's Villages is known as a credible non-governmental organization in the field of children's rights, and for this reason Metso has extended long-term support for the SOS Children's Villages in South Africa and India as part of its role as a good corporate citizen.

SOS Children's Villages was established in 1949 and is active in 133 countries. They are best known for the concept of providing for children in need of care, education and health care in an environment resembling the normal conditions of a family. This is often organized in the form of houses with 10 to 15 children living as a family and with a trained social worker acting as their mother.     

Since the 1990s, Metso has dedicated “Metso Houses” in the Children's Villages in South Africa in Rustenberg, North West Province, and in Vereeniging, Gauteng Province. In India, Metso has had two “Metso Houses” in Faridabad, in the state of Haryana, since 2007.

Schools reconstructed with Metso's support after the Sichuan 2008 earthquake are now in full operation

The tragic earthquake in Sichuan Province in China in 2008 led to a huge loss of lives and also to extensive damage to infrastructure and buildings. From the very beginning of the relief effort, Metso wanted to take an active role by supporting the reconstruction of two schools.

Funds raised among Metso's employees in China and a contribution by Metso Corporation resulted in the targeted amount of RMB 1 million (about EUR 100,000). These funds were channeled through the Red Cross of China to a school now renamed San Dong Metso Boai Middle School. This donation covered about one third of the needed RMB 3 million total investments. This school with its 300 students now has resumed normal operation and is fully equipped with a library of 6,000 books, 31 computers, a playground and more.   

Metso also supported a similar school reconstruction project: the Finnish Charity School Project was financed by Finnish companies established in China and the Finnish Embassy. This school, named  Fenfang Spring Bud School, is located in the Guiyuan village of Guanghan Town in Deyang District of Sichuan Province. The Chinese supporters of the project were the China Children and Teenagers' Fund (CCTF) and the local government. Today this primary school provides education to more than 200 students in grades 1 to 6.  

Metso's response to the tsunami in Japan on March 11, 2011

Metso's immediate internal investigation showed that none of its 116 employees at six Japanese sites in Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Okayama and Kitakami were injured. However, some of the sites had suffered minor damage from the earthquake. Metso's local units were in contact with customers to support the repairs of damaged equipment and to re-start production.

In response to the need for immediate disaster relief, Metso donated EUR 20,000 to the Red Cross Japan.

Metso's technology for waste handling and metal recycling was widely used by local contractors in the debris-clearing and reconstruction work.