The packaging major donated close to Rs 5-crore (0.6 million euros) to clean plastic waste from Mithi river in Mumbai. The project is also raising awareness on effective waste management. The recipient is a partnership consisting of United Nations Technology Innovation Labs, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, a Finnish cleantech start-up RiverRecycle and an India-based citizen-led environmental movement Earth5R.

The Finland-based company also donated 0.9-million euros to UK-based waste management specialist, WasteAid. The project aims to drive community level circular economy in South Africa, Vietnam, and India. The two-year programme will focus on educating diverse local communities via a cloud-based learning platform, networking events, training programmes and local innovation competitions.

In addition, Huhtamaki contributed more than Rs 8-crore (1-million euro) to Food System 6, a non-profit organisation which focuses on innovations for food and agriculture. The funds will be used to surface and support early stage solutions for a circular economy, via organising a start-up cohort programme.

Charles Heaulme, president and CEO of Huhtamaki, said, “The three 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.”

Huhtamaki had also announced an earlier donation to the International Red Cross to boost Covid-19 emergency relief efforts in Asia and Europe. “We want to make a difference where it matters the 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,” said Heaulme.

Huhtamaki boasts its presence in 35 countries and 81 sites around the world. The company clocked net sales worth 3.4-billion euros in 2019.