The Key Flag Symbol indicates that the product has been manufactured in Finland or that the service is produced by a Finnish-owned company. An online shop bearing the Key Flag Symbol has a warehouse in Finland and is operated by a Finnish company.
The Key Flag symbol is a sign of Finnish work.
The Key Flag Symbol can be granted to a product manufactured in Finland, a service produced in Finland or a Finnish online shop.
To qualify for the mark, a product, service or online shop must have
domestic content of at least 50%.
The first Key Flag products in the 1970s were Norlyn tights, Finnmatch matches and Nokia toilet paper. Today, around 8,750 companies (December 2024) use the Key Flag Symbol. Products and services bearing the symbol:
The right to use the Key Flag Symbol is granted on application by the Key Flag Symbol Committee for a period of three (3) years at a time.
The information required for using the mark is reviewed annually.
The Key Flag Symbol is an iconic brand that has encouraged people to favour Finnish products and services for almost 60 years. It joined the efforts to lift Finland out of the recession of the 1990s, the economic downturn of the 2000s and the pandemic, and celebrated Finland’s Ice Hockey World Cup victories, Lordi’s Eurovision Song Contest win and Finland’s 100th birthday. It is an integral part of Finland’s history and future by being part of the everyday life and special occasions in Finland.
The Key Flag Symbol has been shown to influence consumers’ purchasing decisions. For many consumers and decision-makers, it is not only a guarantee of quality, but also a value judgment. By choosing Key Flag products or services, they strive to promote and support Finnish work, employment and work culture. For many, it is also an ethical, ecological and sustainable choice.
When a customer sees the Key Flag Symbol, they know at a glance that the product or service has been manufactured or produced in Finland. The symbol is only awarded to products and services that meet its criteria. On the other hand, the use of the Finnish flag in connection with products or services is not monitored, so the Key Flag Symbol is a more reliable indicator of Finnishness than the Finnish flag.
According to the survey, the Key Flag symbolises the following to Finns:
Finnishness, reliability, quality, responsibility, honesty, employment, sustainability, value judgment.
Source: Brand Valuation 2024,
Taloustutkimus
Source: Membership Survey 2023
Source: Changes in Consumption 2022,
Taloustutkimus
