Jukola Relay is best known for orienteering, but it is just as much an event where unforgettable experiences are created beyond the forest. One of these is the sauna – a place where physical exertion turns into relaxation and individual effort transforms into a shared sense of community.
At the same time, sustainability has become increasingly important in large-scale events. Energy efficiency, circular economy principles, and smart material choices are visible even in places where one might not immediately expect them. When a sauna is built with these principles in mind, the result is an experience that feels good – both for the user and for the environment. Here, FinnFoam’s Technical Development Director, Jussi Jokinen, shares his experiences and insights from working with various solutions.
Jukola, Sauna, and User Experience
“Good thermal insulation reduces both the energy and the time required to heat a sauna. When you’re inside, you can feel the difference: the heat stays in, and the temperature remains even throughout the sauna. For last year’s Jukola Relay, the sauna was completely renewed, and many sauna users clearly noticed the improvement and came to give positive feedback at our stand.”
The History with Jukola
“Our cooperation began at Mynämäki Jukola in 2022, when we supplied FF‑PIR insulation boards for the construction of the saunas. Over the years, development has progressed step by step, and for last year’s Jukola in Mikkeli the sauna was built with significantly greater care and much better insulation than before. As a result, the sauna experience was clearly superior to previous years. Sauna bathing at the Jukola Relay is a special experience that people remember for a long time, and we believe that FinnFoam’s name will also remain in the minds of many for years to come.”
Circular Economy in Practice
“Environmental values such as circular economy have long been important to FinnFoam. As the latest proof of our commitment, we became the first manufacturer of building products to join the Circular Economy Green Deal in September 2025. At the Jukola Relay, recycling and waste management are a central part of the event’s environmental program, which is an important factor in our cooperation.”
Values and Team Spirit
“Without a strong volunteer spirit, it would be impossible to organize the largest mass-participation event in the Nordic countries. That spirit is built on the same values that are important to FinnFoam. Strength, for a volunteer, means commitment to the assigned task and the perseverance to carry it out regardless of weather, timing, or other circumstances. Warmth is another key value – it binds volunteers together and enables true teamwork. Continuous learning reflects the situations that volunteers encounter during the event, where they need to stretch themselves and adapt so that the experience for Jukola’s customers – thousands of orienteers and spectators – is memorable and compelling enough to make them want to return again next year. These are values that Jukola’s volunteers live out year after year.”
In-House Teams and the Connection to Orienteering
“Orienteering can be described as a supply chain. At FinnFoam, the entire chain – from sourcing raw materials to manufacturing, storage, and delivery to the customer, along with the supporting functions – must operate as one unbroken process. In orienteering, every leg of the relay has to succeed in order to achieve the desired final result. In this sense, orienteering is an excellent sport for building and strengthening team spirit within a company.”