Oil refiner and renewable fuel producer Neste Oyj and Mantsinen Group have joined forces to tackle one of society’s most difficult challenges: the social exclusion of young people. Through the Zero Exclusion campaign, Neste and Mantsinen have pledged to get young voices heard and raise funds. The campaign brings together young artists from Finland, the home-country for both companies, one of the leading international art galleries and the world’s largest hydraulic harbour crane as a paintbrush.
The problem of social exclusion of young peoples is vast as according to UNICEF, one in five children in developed countries lives in poverty. Through the Zero Exclusion campaign, Neste and Mantsinen have pledged to get the voices of these young people heard and raise funds to tackle social exclusion.
Zero Exclusion campaign, part of the Journey to Zero project started by Neste to encourage its partners to take part in creating a healthier planet, has been put together by two long-time business partners: Neste and Mantsinen.
The campaign brings together young artists from Finland, the home-country for both companies, one of the leading international art galleries and the world’s largest hydraulic harbour crane.
Paintings using renewable isoalkanes and a 300-tonne paintbrush
Launched on December 4, 2019, the campaign features 42 paintings by three young artists created using a 300-tonne Mantsinen harbour crane fitted with specially-designed paintbrushes.
The founders of our company come from modest backgrounds. We want to show that anyone can achieve success, as long as they are given opportunities for self-fulfillment. Once you have received a helping hand along the way, you want to help others too, said Mia Mantsinen, CEO of Mantsinen Group.
While the canvases were recycled, Mantsinen 300 was also filled with Neste MY Renewable Diesel. Teknos also developed a coating based on Neste MY Renewable Isoalkane for the project and some of the paintings were painted with that, for the first time in the world.
The artworks were produced in collaboration with the internationally acclaimed American art gallery, Albright Knox in Buffalo, United States (US). The paintings will be sold and the proceedings donated in full to the Finland-based charity Hope ry.
Through the campaign, Neste and Mantsinen Group aim to raise EUR 50 000 to invest in programs designed to prevent the social exclusion of young people.
The challenge of social exclusion is huge and tackling it requires a collaborative effort – this is why we are inviting companies to participate. Every young person, no matter where or how they live, should feel that they are an important part of our society. One of the objectives of the Zero Exclusion campaign is to give an unconventional and inspiring voice to the participating young artists, said Heidi Peltonen, Manager, Sustainable Partnerships at Neste.
The common theme of the 42 artworks is hope. The young artists have received support from Hope ry in the past.
The three of us wanted to participate in this project because we felt it was our turn to give something back for all the help we have received. I love art, and painting with the massive crane will forever remain an experience I will always remember. I hope my work inspires companies to take action and help other young people, said artist Miia Kuittinen.
