This is really unbelievable situation that we are celebrating the 3rd Christmas time in a row under crisis and the unnormal situation in Europe and globally. We were just getting out from the crisis of the Covid virus and suddenly the 24th of February this year we heard from the news that there started a war in our neighborhood. Distance to Kyiv from our hometown Turku is only 1.500 kilometers. It is the almost same distance as we have to Northern Lapland Utsjoki in Finland. All this is happening very near to all European citizens.
Coming winter will be very critical in Ukraine and the whole Europe. We are all facing the new situation that we are having lack almost everything. This really needs effort and adaptation by all of us to survive over the winter. At the same time, we have to change our habits and we have to try to support Ukraine people who are fighting for freedom and a future for all of us.
Energy saving is the keyword during this winter. All European countries are facing this problem in one or another way. We all in the lighting industry are in an important role because we can also bring all the time better and more energy-saving luminaires to the market. All the lighting is over 10% of total electricity consumption and at homes, it is even more, over 20% of total energy consumption. This is a lot of energy and all the savings in that sector counts a lot. This is a good moment to make important steps and try to improve the performance of our products and not only concentrate to produce cheaper and cheaper products. It would be important that all of us will understand now that the cheapest product won’t be the best for our future. We really have to concentrate make more efficient and longer lifetime products. This is the only way to save our nature and the way of life we have used to have in the past.
As before, we have donated Christmas present funds to those who need them the most. This year we have selected Save the Children organization and which will help children of poor families.
Regardless of this difficult and abnormal situation, I would like to Thank all of the Customers and Partners for this year and Wish You Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year 2023. Let’s hope that it will be better and safer for all of us.
Best Regards
Janne Mäkinen
CEO
