WHAT IS PALPA
Suomen Palautuspakkaus Oy, hereinafter Palpa, manages the return systems of beverage packages. The duties of the administrator include the collection, recycling and/or reuse of the packages belonging to their systems. In addition, Palpa manages the administration of the deposits in their return systems, the development of their systems and the communications concerning their operations.
Palpa is owned by franchising groups and breweries. The operations are monitored by the Pirkanmaa Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment. Other beverage package return system administrators also operate in Finland, but Palpa is clearly the largest.
Palpa administers three different return systems intended for different package types: there are return systems for aluminium cans, PET plastic bottles and glass bottles recycled as materials.
History of beverage package recycling in Finland
- 1950 – The Finnish bottle return system is created. In the first phase, the system is used to recycle glass bottles that are washed and refilled.
- 1996 – Suomen Palautuspakkaus Oy is established for administering the return system of aluminium cans.
- 2008 – A return system for PET plastic bottles recycled as materials, administered by Palpa, is created.
- 2011 – Palpa starts the administration of the return system for glass bottles utilised as materials, and a separate company, Palpa Lasi Oy, is established for this purpose. Previously, Alko was in charge of recycling glass bottles utilised as materials.
PALPA’S PARTNER NETWORK
Palpa is an administrative company whose strategy is to outsource the services required in recycling operations. Therefore, Palpa does not own any operative sections of the return systems, such as reverse vending machines, recycling plants or transport equipment. Instead, Palpa manages and develops the operations of return systems. The benefit of a network operation is its flexibility. The recycling of beverage packages requires seamless cooperation from many different operators. A large part of the development of the return systems is, in fact, agreeing and negotiating on different matters.
PALPA’S ECONOMY
The turnover of Palpa is about EUR 80 million, and about EUR 360 million worth of deposit fees run through it every year.
Palpa is a non-profit company. The proceeds from fees collected from members and the sales of recycled materials are used to cover the expenses of the return systems.
OWNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS
The ownership of Palpa is divided between retail and breweries. In addition, Palpa has several partners that operate on the different phases of the recycling process.
OWNERS OF SUOMEN PALAUTUSPAKKAUS OY
Alko Oy
Inex Partners Oy
Kesko Oyj
Oy Hartwall Ab
Olvi Oyj
Sinebrychoff Supply Company Oy
STAKEHOLDERS
Authorities
- Ministry of the Environment
- The Pirkanmaa Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
- Tax Administration
- The Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority
Recycling operators
Industry and commerce organisations
Reverse vending machine manufacturers
- Oy Tomra Ab
- RVM Systems Oy
- Scanding Oy
- Pure Recycle (horeca)
Other Nordic return package companies
STAFF
Palpa has 14 employees.