Sustainability Doesn’t Turn into Sales by Itself
I'm Maj-Lis Viitanen, a designer of more sustainable consumer behavior and the creator of the Human-Intelligent Communication method.
I help responsibly operating companies and sustainable development projects design communication and customer journeys that support the adoption of sustainable choices.
How can sustainability communication be combined with commercial goals?
Despite investments in sustainable development and sustainability communication, it is not always clear
- what the communication actually does
or
- how it supports the customer journey.
As a result, sustainability communication may remain at an informational level without guiding the customer all the way to the purchase decision.
Behavior change is the sum of many factors.
Selling sustainable products does not follow the same logic as traditional sales, which typically focus solely on the benefit received by the customer.
Communicating sustainability is significantly more nuanced, and can easily lose its effectiveness, if the customer value proposition is not constructed coherently throughout the customer journey.
For communication and operations to become truly action-guiding, it is necessary to understand:
- how the human decision-making process works
- which factors promote a decision and which may prevent it
- what is the role of sustainability in the overall context
- how people can be guided purposefully toward more sustainable choices
How Can I Help You?
I offer behavioral design consulting and execution for sustainable development projects and sustainability-driven companies.
My work is based on the Human-Intelligent Communication method I have developed, which combines elements of behavioral psychology, sustainability communication, and service design.
With this method, it is possible to, for example
- create a coherent whole from communication and the service journey that purposefully guides the customer along the service path
- define key messages and create consistent communication narratives
- build value for a product or service from a customer-centric perspective
- create a comprehensive behavioral design strategy that takes into account both communicative and operational elements in shaping the service journey
"When I was launching a new beginning in autumn 2025 and taking the first steps with Anmai, there was a lot on my desk. Even as a designer-led founder and a natural communicator, it’s easy to forget that things which feel deeply real and self-evident to you, such as your values and the choices you make based on them, are not always that evident to others. It was incredibly valuable to have the opportunity to discuss and clarify the themes of Anmai’s sustainability communication with Maj-Lis Viitanen, an expert in sustainability communication."
-Anne-Mari Pahkala
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Blog posts
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We Act on What We Can Relate to
We might understand the problem. We might agree that it matters.But we don´t really relate to it. (So we don´t act on it.)
We Act on What We Can Relate to
We might understand the problem. We might agree that it matters.But we don´t really relate to it. (So we don´t act on it.)
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When Values Meet Reality
When consumers are asked, sustainability is clearly valued. Many prefer local brands, responsible production and longevity. There is also a strong expectation that companies should act ethically and environmentally and...
When Values Meet Reality
When consumers are asked, sustainability is clearly valued. Many prefer local brands, responsible production and longevity. There is also a strong expectation that companies should act ethically and environmentally and...
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Sustainability Is a Social Act
Sustainable consumption is not driven by individual values alone. It is also a social behavior. What we see happening around us, and what is considered acceptable and desirable, influences our...
Sustainability Is a Social Act
Sustainable consumption is not driven by individual values alone. It is also a social behavior. What we see happening around us, and what is considered acceptable and desirable, influences our...
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