Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in companies, but few are taking advantage of its potential to promote environmental goals. At the same time, using artificial intelligence also consumes energy and natural resources.
The study by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health examined what types of companies use artificial intelligence to promote environmental goals and to what extent employees take the environmental impacts of technology into account in their work. The results are based on the Twin Transition and Work survey for companies and the Climate Change and Work employee survey.
"As the use of AI becomes more common, it is increasingly important to pay attention to the environmental load it causes and how it can be reduced," says Jere Immonen, Specialist Researcher at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
Financial benefits could increase the use of AI to achieve environmental goals
According to the company survey, 15 per cent of companies using artificial intelligence used it to promote environmental goals. Artificial intelligence was used for this purpose, especially in companies for which ecological sustainability was an important competitive factor. These companies also used other digital technologies more than usual for purposes such as the followup of their own environmental impacts and the development of more ecologically sustainable products and services.
According to the study, companies that utilised artificial intelligence for environmental goals had slightly more employees on average. They were also more likely to consider themselves to be forerunners in digital development.
"AI can significantly support environmental goals, for example by improving resource efficiency, optimising energy consumption and reducing emissions. However, increasing use requires companies to recognise the financial benefits of these solutions and wider dissemination of successful solutions to the corporate field," says Jarno Turunen, Senior Specialist at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
Workplace guidelines help employees take the environmental impacts of AI into account
According to the employee survey, two out of five employees who use artificial intelligence in their work had paid attention to the environmental impacts of the artificial intelligence or other digital technology they use.
A connection was observed between workplace guidelines and taking environmental impacts into account. If the workplace had developed guidelines or provided training on the sustainable use of digital technology and artificial intelligence, more than half of the employees who used AI had paid attention to the environmental impacts of technology.
"The environmental impacts of AI cannot be left to the discretion of individual employees. Workplaces need information on sustainable uses of AI and shared guidelines that help make better choices for the environment," says Immonen.
Information about the study
- The Twin Transition and Work company survey was carried out in 2025 in collaboration with Statistics Finland. A total of 1,691 companies with at least ten employees responded to the survey.
- The Climate Change and Work employee survey was carried out in 2025 in collaboration with Statistics Finland. A total of 1,911 employees responded to the survey.
- The Climate Change and Work data has been published in the Work-Life Knowledge service: Climate change and work | Survey data collection for employees 2025
More information on the topic
- Research report (in Finnish): Tekoäly osana työelämän vihreää siirtymää: Tuloksia Työterveyslaitoksen yritys- ja työntekijäkyselyistä 2025
- Project page: Understanding and supporting the digital and green transition as part of well-being at work
- Analysis in the Work-Life Knowledge service: Do digitalization and the green transition go hand in hand in Finnish workplaces?
- Webinar 10 December 2026 (in Finnish): Mitä kuuluu vihreälle siirtymälle? Tilannekuva suomalaisilta työpaikoilta
Further information
- Jere Immonen, Specialist Researcher, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, jere.immonen [at] ttl.fi (jere[dot]immonen[at]ttl[dot]fi), +358 30 474 3175
- Jarno Turunen, Senior Specialist, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, jarno.turunen [at] ttl.fi (jarno[dot]turunen[at]ttl[dot]fi), +358 30 474 2358
