Sumi Oy – supporting producers
The spring season was a period of intense activity for the entire Sumi producer responsibility organisation. We were diligently preparing for the significant changes that are set to reshape the operational environment. These changes are not just a routine update, but a crucial shift in the producer responsibility field. It’s of utmost importance that we communicate and guide our producers through these changes.
Producer responsibility for packaging has indeed become more complex, but at Sumi, we see this as an opportunity to provide even more crucial guidance. We understand that the costs of producer responsibility are increasing, and we are committed to doing all we can to improve cost efficiency and support our producers in this challenging landscape.
There are significant changes coming in the producer responsibility transfer agreements. From the turn of the year, “hybrid agreements” will no longer be permitted. This means that handling the producer responsibility for packaging through more than one producer responsibility organisation will not be possible. All old agreements must be terminated by 30 June, and new agreements must be made by the end of the year. We understand that updating the agreements of all customers to the producers’ desired producer responsibility organisations will be a massive undertaking, and we are here to support you through this process.
The announced cooperation with Fortum was a significant step towards improving the recycling rate of plastic packaging. Sumi will purchase deployable plans for the project from Fortum and independently build the modern sorting plant for plastic packaging.
There is still much work to complete the plant, but thanks to the expert staff and good plans, the target schedule is realistic – the intention is to have the new plant running from the beginning of 2026. The project supports Sumi’s strategy to increase domestic recycling and secure raw materials for the domestic industry. It is also important to create circular economy jobs in Finland.
Over the past year, Sumi has carried out many development steps in the field. The work is not done, and we will continue active development, specifically with an eye on producer interest.
I want to remind all of our partners to use the AI-powered Sumilits on our website for answers to any questions related to producer responsibility. Many producers and operators covered by producer responsibility have answered questions related to legislative changes and how they affect their operations. The Sumilits and artificial intelligence are excellent ways of finding answers to these questions around the clock.
I also urge everyone to contact Sumi’s expert staff without hesitation. We work to benefit producers and develop the field of producer responsibility.