Finland to win top position in plastic packaging recycling by marketing

Why are Finns lazy in sorting plastic packaging? The reason is not a lack of services. Over half of Finnish households have residential waste collection, where sorted packaging is collected from the property directly. The service is therefore excellent and the only decision to make is whether to send one’s packaging to a recycling plant (plastic packaging bin) or to be incinerated (mixed waste bin). In detached houses and other smaller properties there is no separate packaging waste bin, and the residents can take their packaging waste to Rinki ecopoints. These are available usually when going grocery shopping.

A new Circular Economy Act is under preparation in Finland, and it will replace the Waste Act. There are considerations about how to make Finns sort waste more actively. Rinki together with the producer organisations have studied this and drawn a conclusion. The collection services are in place but there is a need for strong motivation towards using them. More eagerness to sort, understanding the significance of sorting plastic packaging and maybe even a bit of national spirit of competition are called for. Do we want to be among the best or the weakest in the EU in plastic packaging sorting and recycling? Do we want to live in and build a Finland based on sustainable circular economy?

In autumn 2025 Rinki, Sumi and Finnish Packaging Producers launch a marketing campaign to motivate Finns to sort plastic packaging much more actively than currently. We invite everyone to share this important message. The campaign continues to the end of 2027 and the aim is that by then Finnish people sort eight out of ten packaging. This would take us to the top of EU recycling statistics.

Contact Rinki and join in with your company!