Case study: How Vapaus acted on a voluntary double materiality assessment for competitive advantage

Starting Point: Differentiating through an ambitious sustainability strategy

Vapaus, the Finnish growth company, works for greener mobility by providing an employee benefit bike service and expanding the lifespan of bikes by giving used bikes a new life with its innovative Precycled concept.

“Our goal is to be the forerunner in sustainability,” says Tatu Mäkilä, Co-Founder and Chief Precycled & Partnerships Officer of Vapaus. “Although not required by CSRD regulation, we wanted to proactively conduct a DMA to see where we stand and craft an outstanding sustainability strategy. After all, sustainability is a core value and integral to our service excellence.”

Solution: A complete DMA before required by regulation

Vapaus had already worked with Upright for a holistic net impact assessment to analyse the net sum of harms and benefits that the company creates to the surrounding world.

“Urpight’s science-based and data-driven approach, paired with a crystal-clear plan, was the best out of the partners we considered. As our previous engagement together went really well, the choice was obvious,” Mäkilä describes.

Mäkilä was pleasantly surprised by the smooth, eight-week process. He found the approach exceptionally clear and simple. Upright’s active communication made it easy to share the goals and outcomes internally as the work progressed.

Benefits: Strategy and communications, driven by facts

Upright's double materiality assessment provided Vapaus with a complete overview of their impact and financial materiality, providing input for an informed, data-driven strategy and prioritising improvements.

“Upright’s data enabled us to communicate in concrete terms about our positive material impacts, which is truly a competitive advantage to us as a growth company,” Mäkilä outlines.

Upright’s earlier net impact assessment work with Vapaus also helped secure their Series A funding round. “Upright’s research played a key role in communications with potential investors and financiers. As we are conducting a due diligence project concerning our impact, we’d be flying blind without concrete knowledge of the effects of our operations.”

Overall, Mäkilä is pleased: “In my view, we worked with the best in the world to conduct this DMA. The findings enable us to keep ahead of the curve in our strategic sustainability development and communications. I’m confident we’ve done a great job.”