Picture
Recycling instruction board at the Ukonniemi stadium.
IPV's games recycle.

IPV continues to cooperate in creating the eco-sports event of the future

Release
7.5.2021 12:06
In Imatra's Pallo-Veikko match events, the use of plastic was minimized and switched to renewable and recyclable materials in the summer of 2020. Drinking cups made of cardboard from Stora Enso's Imatra factories replaced e.g. plastic bottles at matches. The city of Imatra and Imatran Toimitilat Oy are involved in the cooperation.

IPV wants to organize responsible and environmentally friendly sports events and encourage the public to consume responsibly in the future.
- We got good results last season and we plan to continue with the same concept. We want to reduce the use of plastic, improve the recycling of packaging and cooperate with entities that promote responsibility, says IPV's director of sports Jani Valkeapää.

During the summer 2020 match events, a total of 120 kilos of cardboard delivered for recycling were collected. This amount of cartons can be used to make 1000 pieces of 12 soft drink transport packs (0,33ml).
- The amount of recycled cardboard is expected to double after the pandemic, when the number of games and audiences increases, says Valkeapää.

The carbon footprint of beverage service was reduced by 90 percent

The key conclusion of the final project "Replacing plastic products with cardboard products at a sports event" commissioned by Etelä-Karjala Jätehuolto is that replacing plastic products with cardboard products reduces the carbon footprint of the sports event and reduces plastic consumption.

The carbon footprint of beverage service decreased significantly, by about 90 percent. The reduction in the carbon footprint is mostly caused by the manufacturing phase of the products, because oil-based raw materials are not needed at all. Spectators also play an essential role: they decide how recycling and reducing the carbon footprint will succeed.

Drinking cups are made at the Hämeenlinna factory in Huhtamäki. The cup board comes from Stora Enso's Imatra factories and is based on completely renewable raw materials, wood fiber and plant-based plastic coating. The cups are collected separately as part of other recycling and taken to Stora Enso's factory in Varkaus in bales, where they continue their lives in the form of new products. Etelä Karjala Jatehuolto is responsible for collection.

- Our common goal is to help the public make responsible choices. We succeeded in this very well last season and will continue in the coming season as well. The carbon footprint of a cardboard cup made with a plant-based coating is small, and according to research, recycling reduces it by half, says the factory manager Mikko Nieminen.

The city is supporting

The city of Imatra and Imatran Toimitilat Oy are involved in the project. The goal of the city of Imatra is to strive for carbon neutrality by 2030. In Imatra's climate program, the greenhouse effects of consumption and materials have been taken into account, for example by reducing consumption and increasing the circular economy. Mitra has renovated the restaurant premises used by IPV to better reflect recycling.

The renewable sports event concept includes Imatran Pallo-Veikot (IPV), Imatran Ketterä, Stora Enso's Imatra factories, the city of Imatra and its subsidiary Imatran Toimitilat Oy, and Etelä-Karjalan Jätehuolto.

For more information:
Jani Valkeapää, director of sports, Imatran Pallo-Veikot, tel. 050 538 7190
Mikko Nieminen, plant manager, Stora Enso Imatra plants, tel. 040 773 8914

 

Modified on 7.5. at 15:55 p.m.: Changed information about what you can do with recycled mugs and deleted information about recycling corrugated cardboard.