Osuuskunta Maitomaa improved EPR packaging reporting with SumiOn – saving time and improving cost predictability

EPR packaging data reporting requires producers to have accurate data on packaging placed on the market. Osuuskunta Maitomaa started using SumiOn reporting portal in early 2026 and adopted a new reporting method based on actual sales volumes. As a result, producer responsibility fees are based on accurate packaging quantities placed on the market instead of estimates.

Sumi experts built Maitomaa's product portfolio in SumiOn, making it easier to get started with the new reporting method. Moving to modern reporting has made packaging data more accurate, reduced manual work, and made reporting easier.

Maitomaa's Technical Director Veli-Matti Tuokkuri describes the successful project:

“It is easy when the product portfolio is already set up in SumiOn and all we need to enter are sales volumes. Reports are generated automatically, so we no longer need to calculate anything manually.”

Manual calculations made reporting time-consuming

Osuuskunta Maitomaa is one of Finland's medium-sized dairy companies, and its dairy has operated in Suonenjoki since 1915. Owned 100% by Finnish milk producers, the dairy cooperative manufactures products under its own brands and private labels. Its operations combine the reliability of a large dairy with the agility of a smaller operator.

Packaging plays an important role in Maitomaa's business, protecting products while also being practical and appealing to consumers. In the food industry, SUP packaging also adds another dimension to reporting, as related data and fees must be included. Combined with a broad product range and a wide variety of packaging materials, this makes reporting a demanding process.

Maitomaa chose Sumi as its producer organization based on competitive pricing for liquid cartons, customer service and expertise. The company has particularly valued Sumi´s reporting services and related support.

Before switching to SumiOn, Maitomaa relied on manual calculations for packaging reporting, which required a significant amount of time. When Maitomaa learned about SumiOn in late 2025, it recognized an opportunity to improve reporting and make day-to-day work easier.

Product portfolio project made it easy to get started with SumiOn

SumiOn is a reporting portal for Sumis customers where companies report data on packaging they place on the market. Each company has its own product portfolio in SumiOn. Packaging structure for each product is entered only once, then the system automatically calculates reportable packaging quantities based on sales volumes.

Maitomaa's implementation began by building its product portfolio together with Sumis experts. Maitomaa only needed to provide necessary packaging data and attend a few Teams meetings. Sumi experts then built the complete product portfolio.

“The project was clear and getting started was easy. From the beginning, we knew exactly what information we needed to provide. Whenever we had questions about reporting, we received answers quickly,” says Veli-Matti Tuokkuri.

Reduced workload and better predictability of producer responsibility fees

Before SumiOn, packaging reporting involved more manual calculations. Packaging quantities had to be calculated separately before reporting, which took time and increased risk of errors.

Today, Maitomaa completes its quarterly reporting in approximately 1–2 hours.

With the product portfolio already built in SumiOn, Maitomaa only needs to enter actual sales volumes to the portal. Reports are generated automatically and related fees are calculated based on reported data.

Once implementation was completed, Maitomaa switched from annual to quarterly reporting. Quarterly reporting based on sales volumes is straightforward, as there is no need to estimate annual packaging quantities or adjust estimates afterwards. Recycling fees are based on actual packaging quantities placed on the market rather than purchase volumes. At the same time, EPR fees are easier to predict, and up-to-date information is available for financial monitoring sooner.

Catching errors before submitting a report

One benefit of SumiOn is that reporting results are immediately visible in the portal. This helps users identify possible data entry errors before submitting a report.

When preparing its first quarterly report, Maitomaa quickly noticed that some data had been entered in the wrong columns.

“It was easy to see that the recycling fee shouldn't be that high. We found the error quickly and were able to correct it,” says Veli-Matti Tuokkuri.

SumiOn improves reporting accuracy and saves time

Based on Maitomaa's experience, a ready-built product portfolio, reporting based on actual sales volumes and expert support have reduced time spent on reporting and made packaging producer responsibility easier to manage.

SUP packaging can also be reported together with other packaging data, so there is no need to handle SUP packaging data separately anymore.

Maitomaa particularly recommends SumiOn to food industry companies.

“I especially recommend SumiOn to food industry companies with consumer packaging. SUP packaging can be reported together with other data, so there is no need for separate declarations” says Veli-Matti Tuokkuri.

Learn more about Maitomaa: https://maitomaa.fi/en/

Interested in SumiOn? We are currently offering new customers product portfolio setup in SumiOn at no additional cost!

Contact us to schedule a meeting and find out how SumiOn can make your EPR reporting faster and easier.