Responsibility and sustainability

The purpose of the Finnish National Gallery’s museum shops is to generate revenue that supports the work of our museums. Our selection ranges from products inspired by the Finnish National Gallery’s collection to items connected with the themes and artworks of our temporary exhibitions, as well as high quality gifts. We want your purchase to be as good as possible for our planet and the people involved in making the products, from the moment the raw materials are produced until they have served their purpose and will be recycled.

Products from our own in house production form an essential part of our assortment. We collaborate with trusted partners, prioritising production in Finland and nearby regions. When the best possible maker cannot be found close to home, we may source products from further away after careful consideration. In all our procurement, we verify the origin of materials and the responsibility of the manufacturing process, relying on internationally recognised certifications or equivalent information.

We also offer a curated selection of compelling products from both Finnish and international suppliers. These makers range from individual artisans to global companies. Before any purchase decision, we always ensure that we have sufficient information about raw materials, production processes, and working conditions, so that we can confidently uphold sustainable practices. We are increasing the use of recycled materials in our products and investing in their recyclability. Throughout our entire retail chain, we avoid unnecessary packaging. We communicate openly with our customers about our production chain at all times.

Green Handprint

In our museum shops, we follow the Finnish National Gallery's Green Handprint programme. We measure our ecological impact every year, for example through the EcoCompass certificate. Examples of the Green Handprint actions in our museum shops:

• We sell sustainable and consumable products for everyday use.
• We give preference to recycled and recyclable materials.
• Our goal is transparency: the origin of products, their materials and production methods are always communicated.
• We aim for zero waste by optimising order volumes and sales.
• We focus our sourcing on local areas to minimise transportation.
• We avoid unnecessary packaging.

We continuously improve our operations, for example by training our staff and by designing our product range according to the principles of sustainable design.

Shipping and product packaging

Your e-commerce purchases are shipped through Posti’s carbon neutral postal service. Our online shop also offers a pick-up option at the Ateneum Art Museum. We pack your purchase in recyclable packaging whenever possible. If the packaging material is new, it is recyclable cardboard.

We strive to minimise customer returns by providing our online customers with comprehensive information and pictures of the products. Therefore you can make an informed decision and the product is likely to meet your expectations.