Huhtamaki donating €3m to circular economy initiatives
Using innovative and emerging technologies to clean plastic waste, Huhtamaki is donating €600,000 ($656,000) to clean plastic waste from Mithi river in Mumbai, India. The project is also raising awareness on effective waste management. The recipient is a partnership consisting of United Nations Technology Innovation Labs (UNTIL), VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, a Finnish cleantech start-up RiverRecycle and an India-based citizen-led environmental movement Earth5R.
The company has also given €900,000 ($985,000) to provide education and training on waste management and circular systems in South Africa, Vietnam and India through WasteAid.
Huhtamaki is also giving €1m ($1.1m) to Food System 6, a non-profit accelerator focused on innovations for food and agriculture. The funds will be used to surface and support early stage solutions for a circular economy, via organizing a start-up cohort program.
In addition, Huhtamaki announced earlier a donation to the International Red Cross to boost COVID-19 emergency relief efforts in Asia and Europe and improving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable.
“We want to make a difference, where it matters most. We made a first donation in support of the International Red Cross’ work to alleviate the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to provide immediate help,” Charles Héaulmé, president and CEO of Huhtamaki, said.
“The three other projects are in line with our ambitious sustainability strategy with the aim of creating a circular economy at different levels: acting today, educating for tomorrow and innovating for the future.
“With these donations we celebrate our centennial by giving back and investing in a sustainable future.”
