Our Approach

Kanava Resort is dedicated to fostering more responsible tourism. In 2024, we began the Sustainable Travel Finland (STF) program, an initiative led by Visit Finland to advance sustainable tourism practices. For us, sustainability is a commitment to tangible actions that help protect the unique nature of Lake Saimaa and preserve the region’s rich cultural heritage.

 

Construction Phase

  • The cottages at Kanava Resort are constructed from cross-laminated timber (CLT), an eco-friendly building material. Timber naturally stores carbon dioxide throughout its life, even after harvesting.
  • The cottages were prefabricated in modules, built almost entirely in a factory, and then transported in three sections to Oravi, where they were assembled. This has reduced, among other things, emissions during the construction phase as well as the duration of disturbances affecting the surrounding nature and residential environment.
  • For landscaping, we’ve used sustainable mor, a sort of natural forest floor mat, which remains mostly in its natural state and requires minimal maintenance after the first season.

Cottage Heating and Maintenance

  • In winter, when cottages are unoccupied, the baseline temperature is kept at 18°C. This increases to 22°C upon guests’ arrival.
  • During the summer, the baseline temperature is maintained at 20°C.
  • All cottages have air-source heat pumps. When unoccupied, curtains are drawn to retain warmth in winter and reduce heat buildup in summer.

Cleaning and Waste Management

  • Cottages are cleaned only at the end of each stay, using eco-friendly cleaning products.
  • Only used towels and bed linens are laundered, with gentle detergents to minimize environmental impact.
  • We provide refillable shampoo and shower gel bottles instead of disposable ones, and these are replaced only when fully empty.
  • Our waste management system includes sorting and recycling. The waste station available to guests year-round includes bins for mixed waste, glass, metal, and cardboard, with bio-waste bins available during peak seasons.

Accessibility

  • Kanava Resort is located on an island within the Saimaa archipelago, accessible by both land and water. Paths on the resort grounds are primarily gravel, which can be slightly uneven depending on the season. These paths also serve as emergency routes and are maintained throughout the winter.
  • Currently, none of our cottages are fully accessible, as access to cottages and storage facilities requires stairs.
  • The construction of Kanava Resort is staged, and as our business expands, we plan to hopefully add more cottages, including one that is fully accessible.

Cultural Heritage

  • Our property includes a preserved piece of local history: a beacon believed to be the oldest of its kind in the Saimaa area, standing at Kanava Resort’s cape since 1892.
  • An old vaulted root cellar is also on-site, which we plan to restore and bring back into use.

Ethical Guidelines

  • Kanava Resort welcomes everyone, regardless of gender, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical ability, religion, or political beliefs.
  • All Kanava Resort employees and partners are committed to adhering to our ethical guidelines.

In addition to our own actions, we encourage our guests to practice responsible tourism during their stay. We provide guidance on sustainable water usage and encourage them to keep sustainability in mind in all aspects of their visit.

Sustainable Tourism Principles

  1. We engage in fair and collaborative partnerships.
  2. We care for the natural environment.
  3. We respect cultural heritage.
  4. We promote well-being, human rights, and equality.
  5. We prioritize local resources.
  6. We invest in safety and quality.
  7. We consider our impact on the climate.
  8. We communicate openly.
  9. We continuously improve our business practices.
  10. We are committed to sustainable tourism principles.

For more details on Visit Finland’s sustainable tourism principles, click here.

How you can help

The development of sustainable tourism requires not only the efforts of tourism businesses but also the contributions of travelers. Together, we can mitigate and reduce the emissions caused by tourism, making travel more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Even small actions can have a significant impact.

You can find our guidelines for a more sustainable stay here. Thank you for your consideration!