Slush, Europe’s largest startup and investor event, took place in Helsinki on November 20-21, 2024. Huhtamaki partnered with Slush as the Sustainability Partner for the event and organized a side event in collaboration with Emerald Technology Ventures, with a focus on fostering innovation in circularity through digital solutions. The side event highlighted the critical role of startups and technology in addressing systemic sustainability challenges.
“We must understand that societal challenges like these can only be solved by embracing new partners, new technologies, and new ways of working,” says Johan Rabe, EVP Digital and Process Performance at Huhtamaki.
Enabling Circularity Through Innovation
The event opened with a panel discussion featuring speakers from Huhtamaki, Emerald Technology Ventures, Nokia, and Open Funk. The discussion explored how digital innovation can drive circularity, addressing key challenges such as last-mile collection and recycling. It highlighted the critical need for collaboration across the value chain in ensuring reliable and high-quality data.
The discussion underscored Huhtamaki’s focus on harmonized data, AI-driven solutions, and scalable systems to advance circularity. Rabe stressed the importance of addressing logistical barriers in last-mile recycling and engaging consumers and our supply chains through digital platforms:
“Traceability and digital passports are critical, but at the core of it all is the importance of clean, organized data—it’s the foundation for solving any of these issues,” emphasized Rabe.
Fredric Petit from Emerald Technology Ventures outlined promising areas for innovation, highlighting the potential of startups to tackle these challenges for the packaging industry. Pia Tanskanen from Nokia discussed the use of AI-enhanced lifecycle assessments and digital product passports to drive transparency, while Tapani Jokinen illustrated how circular design can overcome systemic barriers and accelerate the transition to a circular economy.
Picture: Panelists from left to right: Fredric Petit (Emerald Technology Ventures), Johan Rabe (Huhtamaki), Tapani Jokinen (Open Funk) and Pia Tanskanen (Nokia)
Collaborative Problem-Solving
Following the panel, close to 100 participants—including startups, investors, and experts from more than 20 countries—engaged in a workshop. The attendees were divided into four discussion groups, each focused on a specific topic:
- Digital Foundations for Sustainability
- AI-Driven Supply Chain Solutions
- Applications of Digital Product Passports
- Solving Last-Mile Collection, Recycling, and Reuse
Participants shared insights, brainstormed solutions, and identified key enablers for achieving a circular economy.
Paving the Way for Future Collaborations
Our activities at Slush have provided a platform for innovating and exploring solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in packaging circularity by bringing together startups, investors, and industry experts.
As Salla Ahonen, EVP of Sustainability and Communications at Huhtamaki, noted:
“We see collaboration with startups as a great opportunity to identify key enablers of a circular economy. By working together, we can accelerate the shift toward systems where materials are valued as resources, not waste.”
The connections and insights gained at Slush 2024 will fuel the ongoing efforts to shape a future where circularity and innovation go hand in hand, paving the path for a truly sustainable packaging industry.
The Slush 2024 event highlighted the critical role of startups, technology, and collaboration in driving circularity within the packaging industry. Moving forward, Huhtamaki remains committed to exploring new solutions and driving sustainability through collaboration.
For further inquiries or partnership opportunities, please contact our Huhtamaki Venturing team at venturing@huhtamaki.com.
Pictures below: Johan Rabe and Henrietta Haavisto from Huhtamaki
