The most serious environmental problem faced by the Baltic Sea is eutrophication, which threatens the diversity of underwater life. The blue-green algae blooms we witness every summer are the most visible and disturbing symptom of eutrophication. Eutrophication is caused by the excessive phosphorus and nitrogen loads in the sea.

In the summer, If mobilized its customers by providing them with an effortless opportunity to protect the Baltic Sea. By choosing an If e-invoice instead of a paper invoice or by agreeing to receive all insurance documents in electronic format, If customers would participate in the effort to remove algae from the Baltic Sea.  The campaign was implemented in cooperation with the John Nurminen Foundation: for every e-invoice or electronic insurance document subscription, If donated 1.6 kg of algae removal through a monetary donation to the John Nurminen Foundation’s Clean Baltic Sea projects.

“The target of the campaign was to remove 100,000 kg of algae from the Baltic Sea.  We surpassed this target by 10,000 kg: this means that our customers helped us remove as much as 110,000 kg of algae from the Baltic Sea. We think this is a wonderful result, and extend our warmest thanks to all our customers who participated in the campaign”, extols Timo Harju, Head of Sales & Service Finland at If Insurance.

“Switching to electronic documents is in other ways too a measure that benefits the environment, as the carbon footprint of a document sent electronically is only a third of one sent by conventional mail”, says Harju.

In connection with the campaign, If disseminated information on the Baltic Sea and the efforts to protect it via its social media channels.

“We hope to see that our campaign makes as many people as possible think what other choices that benefit the wellbeing of the Baltic Sea they could make in their everyday lives. The Baltic Sea needs help from us all”, says Harju.

For 15 years, the John Nurminen Foundation has worked to reduce the nutrient load of the Baltic Sea.

“Our mission is to save the Baltic Sea and its heritage for future generations. Thanks to If and its customers, we are once again one step closer to a cleaner Baltic Sea”, applauds Annamari Arrakoski-Engardt, Secretary General of the John Nurminen Foundation.

Further information:

Erkki Salo
Fundraising Director, John Nurminen Foundation
erkki.salo(at)jnfoundation.fi
+358 (0)40 728 1859

Timo Harju
Head of Sales & Service Finland, If,
+358 50 424 2237
timo.harju(at)if.fi

John Nurminen Foundation – Baltic Sea protection and marine culture
Founded in 1992, the purpose of the John Nurminen Foundation is to save the Baltic Sea and its heritage to future generations. The Foundation has been awarded for its work as a communicator of information and producer of marine content. The goal of the Foundation’s Clean Baltic Sea projects is to improve the condition of the Baltic Sea with tangible measures that will reduce the load and environmental risks directed at the sea. The work is steered by measurable results and impact. www.johnnurmisensaatio.fi