Sustainability
Harriniva – Responsible tourism in Lapland
At Harriniva, responsibility is a natural part of our everyday work and decision making process. Our operations are based on three pillars: nature, family, and culture. They guide us in our everyday choices and major decisions – for a sustainable future.
Nature – Living environment and workplace
Harriniva is located on the edge of the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, surrounded by clean air, silence, and Arctic nature. These elements form the basis of all our activities.
We protect the environment through small but consistent actions: we use renewable energy, sort our waste, favor local producers, and encourage our guests to act in harmony with nature.
We work closely with Metsähallitus to ensure the sustainable use of the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park. In addition, we participate in the Muonio municipality’s route working group, which develops and maintains the area’s hiking and route networks.
We are active in the following networks:
• Keep Lapland Clean Association
• Finnish Dog Sled Entrepreneurs Association
• Reindeer Farm Tourism Association
• Green Key, Good Travel Seal, and Sustainable Travel Finland certifications
Our work with these organizations is reflected in practice in areas such as environmental education, the development of responsible animal husbandry, and the maintenance of sustainable tourism standards.
Family – People at the center
Harriniva is a family business, where family means more than just ownership. For us, family is a community – employees, guests, and partners together.
We invest in open communication and hands-on leadership. For us, supervisory work means supporting everyday life, not controlling it. We train our staff in responsibility, safety, and customer service, and we take care of well-being at work through flexible working arrangements, recreation days, and exercise benefits.
We also have a whistleblowing channel that can be used to report inappropriate behavior anonymously – openness and safety are important values for us.
Culture – Roots in Muonio, eyes on the world
Lapland’s culture and local character are an integral part of our operations. We want to showcase them in a genuine and respectful way. We follow the ethical guidelines for Sámi tourism and tell our visitors about local stories, languages, and customs.
In our restaurant kitchens, we use local ingredients, such as Arctifood reindeer and JK-produced lake fish. Our shops sell products made by local artisans, and we favor responsible suppliers in our purchasing.
Culture is also reflected in the way we treat our guests – warmly, honestly, and without prejudice.
Responsibility is ongoing
Responsibility is not a finished list of achievements, but a process of continuous learning and everyday choices. This is reflected in how we operate on the trails, what purchases we make, how we behave in nature, and how we talk about life here in Lapland. Our partners include Kespro, Comforta, HK, and Sinebrychoff, all of which follow their own responsibility programs. Certificates provide direction, but responsibility is realized in practice through small and large actions every day.
Responsible traveler – how you can make a difference
Small choices make a big difference. Here’s how you can support nature, culture, and the local community during your visit:
💚 Keep the wilderness clean. Take all your trash with you – including organic waste and tissues.
💚 Stay on marked trails. Whether you’re snowmobiling, snowshoeing, skiing, or hiking, trails protect nature and increase safety. If you’re unsure which trail is suitable for your mode of transportation, ask us!
💚 Use route guidance. You can get Metsähallitus maps and instructions digitally or from reception.
💚 Sort your waste correctly. You will find sorting points at all our offices: organic waste, metal, glass, cardboard, and plastic.
💚 Support local businesses. Buy Lapland handicrafts and products from our shops.
💚 Eat locally sourced food. Our restaurants offer seasonal meals made from local ingredients.
💚 Ask and learn. Our guides will tell you about nature, animals, and local culture on our excursions.
💚 Travel together. Our travel packages include transportation—carpooling saves both nature and effort.
We’re committed to protecting our valuable nature in Lapland.
Harriniva Hotels & Safaris operates in the Muonio municipality in Western Lapland, right next to and partly inside the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park.
According to WHO studies, the national park has the cleanest air in the world.
Europe’s last wilderness
We feel privileged to be surrounded by the beautiful and pure nature we have here in Lapland. We also take responsibility for preserving it.
Like with winter adventures, we’ve been pioneering responsible tourism both in Finland and worldwide.
Here in Muonio, we‘re surrounded by clear blue lakes and rivers with endless fishing opportunities and quality drinking water.
Lapland is called ‘Europe’s last wilderness’ and the region is home to more reindeer than people!
Cultural heritage is part of being responsible
Finnish Lapland is the world’s largest wild food picking area, with a whopping nine million hectares of organic picking grounds.
Here the “everyman’s right” gives permission for anyone to freely pick wild mushrooms and berries.
Local cultural heritage is also close to our hearts: the Pietikäinen family that drives Harriniva Hotels & Safaris now in the third generation descends directly from the indigenous Sámi people of Lapland, namely the Vasara family. The Sámi are Europe´s only indigenous people.
As we share Sámi cultural heritage through our stories and local roots, we recommend the Sámi Parliament’s visitor guidance for simple, practical tips on engaging respectfully with Sámi culture in Lapland.
Certificates lead our way for our continious improvement towards sustainable tourism
All Harriniva Hotels & Safaris resorts have been awarded certificates for our commitment to developing sustainable tourism and protecting our environment.
Certification helps us forward on our path towards more sustainable and responsible operations and actions.
The work is never done, but certificates will continue to guide us on our path.
Sustainable Travel Finland
Sustainable Travel Finland is a sustainable tourism program from Visit Finland. When you choose businesses with this label, you’re supporting eco-friendly practices, local communities, and Finnish culture.
All our three destinations – Harriniva Adventure Resort, Jeris Lakeside Resort and Torassieppi Eco Reindeer Resort received the STF label in June 2024 as proof of valuable and long-term work for sustainable tourism.
Green Key
Green Key is international sustainability certificate and program. The participants must commit to continuous improvements in different aspects of sustainability, and report on them when making the annual re-application.
Torassieppi Eco Reindeer Resort was our first resort to receive a sustainability certificate in 2020.
Green Activities
In recognition of our commitment to responsibility, our activity services have been awarded the Green Activities Certificate in December 2025, based on sustainability criteria developed specifically for the experience and activity industry.
As a Green Activities certified company, we are committed to continuously improving our sustainability practices and reporting on our progress annually as part of the renewal process. Compliance with the criteria is verified through regular audits, and the certificate is granted by an external, independent jury.
Good Travel Seal
Good Travel Seal is a sustainability support program for all tourism and travel related businesses and facilities. GTS criteria contains criteria in the field of environment and social responsibility among others.
In June 2023 Harriniva Adventure Resort and Jeris Lakeside Resort received Good Travel Seal certificates.
