Stone-Ideas.com 
Finnish natural stones can now bear the so-called “key flag” as a trademark. It confirms that the material originates from Finland and was processed by a Finnish company. Previously, the protected mark applied only to domestically produced gravestones, explains Sini Laine, Managing Director of the Finnish Natural Stone Association KIVI ry.
This is a significant achievement for the stone sector. The mark is very popular in Finland and is used not only in sales but also in situations of national importance, such as the measures taken to combat the recession in the 1990s, as well as for appearances by Finnish representatives in the Ice Hockey World Cup or the Eurovision Song Contest.
The awarding of the “key flag”-license is handled by an agency to which applicants must submit a detailed description of their product.
The emblem is based on the national flag and incorporates it into a symbolic key. The key’s ward bears the Finnish cross in the country’s blue color. Most Scandinavian countries have variations of the cross in their national flags, often with different colors. Finland was long part of its once-powerful neighbor Sweden, belonged to the Russian Empire from 1809, and gained its independence in 1917 after the October Revolution. Today, it shares a border with Russia that stretches over 1,300 km.
Currently (since December 2024), approximately 8,750 companies from all sectors are authorized to use the key flag. This number encompasses 4,600 products, 6,300 services, and 400 online shops.
For a non-profit association, the flag costs €109 per year. Members automatically benefit from this. Otherwise, interested companies must pay a fee based on their revenue.
In other European countries, natural stones are protected by the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) [Geographical Indications] (GI). While the key flag is only legally binding in Finland, these GIs are valid throughout Europe and are also intended to eliminate misleading names.
