Responsibility

In accordance with Luke’s strategy, we use research to create wellbeing and a sustainable future from renewable natural resources. Our research produces value and solutions to our customers and society. We develop our operations and operating models continuously and monitor the quality, responsibility and ethics of our operations.

In all research activities and official duties and as a statistical authority, Luke acts impartially, independently, honestly and responsibly, observing high ethical standards of science. Our activities promote responsibility and the balanced realisation of the different dimensions of sustainability in society.

Luke has identified the five UN Sustainable Development Goals that are most relevant for itself and furthers the achievement of these goals with its research results and other activities. We are committed to following the progress in our selected goals until the end of the current strategy period, 2025.

Luke’s Code of Conduct lies at the core of all of our responsible action and outlines the ethical principles according to which we work. The responsible conduct of Luke’s research has been ensured with a commitment to the ethical guidelines of the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity (TENK).

Luke’s research ethics committee supports Luke’s management in ethical issues, while its ethical committee on empirical research related to natural resources reviews the implementation of research conducted in natural environments and utilising empirical material based on, e.g., the EU’s ‘do no significant harm’ (DNSH) principle. Both committees were established on 1 January 2022.

Luke’s goal is to build an international, diverse, multi-disciplinary, equal and non-discriminating workplace community. Luke’s equality plan supports the fulfilment of these goals and the obligations set out in legislation on equality and non-discrimination.

Luke has a Natural Sciences Ethics Committee, which conducts pre review of the potential harm and risks of experimental studies. This pre review is based on the Ethical Principles for Research on the Environment and Organisms, published in 2024.

A planned research project is subject to ethical pre review if it may cause significant harm or risks to:

• endangered species or habitats, valuable cultural environments, or biodiversity
• animal welfare or health
• soil or water contamination, or significant emissions into water bodies or soil
• the health or safety of researchers, third parties, or their property

The goal of the pre review is to ensure that the research can be carried out responsibly.

Tasks of the committee

• Provide pre review statements on research projects upon request from research groups
• Update the ethical principles and statement request process for research involving the environment and organisms
• Monitor and guide ethical issues within its area of responsibility
• Communicate, inform, and provide training on research ethics
• Report on its activities to the Luke management board

Committee members

• Sirpa Thessler, Vice President, Chair
• Laura Kitti, Principal Research Manager, HTK Support Person
• Tiina Kauppinen, Senior Specialist
• Matti Koivula, Research Professor
• Marketta Rinne, Research Professor
• Laura Uusitalo, Research Professor
• Johanna Torkkel, Communication Manager
• Heidi Lindberg, Senior Legal Counsel
• Tiina Ikonen, Senior Specialist (Secretary)

Luke serves as a pilot organization in the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity (TENK)'s project Ethical Principles and Advance Assessment Collaboration for Environmental and Nature Research. Luke’s ethical principles and processes will be further refined as the TENK project progresses.