Ensuring responsible water management
At Huhtamaki, we care for water as a valuable natural resource, indispensable for food, people and the planet. Acknowledging the human right to water and sanitation, we focus on managing and mitigating our impact on water resources.
Our water footprint
The most water-intensive business at Huhtamaki is manufacturing molded fiber packaging, where water plays a key role in pulping the recycled fiber before further processing. We have efficient water re-circulation systems in place at these manufacturing units. Process water is treated by either our own facilities or municipal treatment plants before discharge, so our operations have a negligible or very limited impact on downstream water quality. In other areas, water is primarily used for sanitation and hygiene purposes (such as in canteens, toilets, and showers), as well as for cooling and cleaning the facilities.
Delivering on our commitment to water management is essential for us
We conduct water risk mapping annually, using the widely recognized Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas provided by the World Resource Institute (WRI) to determine some of the water-related risks of our manufacturing units and fiber supply plants.
Our water stewardship is based on comprehensive, site-specific water management plans (WMPs) implemented at all locations and updated in 2023. In 2025, we assessed water risks at all production sites, including overall business risk, supply quantity and quality, local municipal infrastructure, regulations, and governance. The results of this analysis are integrated into our enterprise-wide risk management practices.
As an outcome of our water management plans, we are implementing circular water management projects across our different manufacturing units to:
- Reduce water losses by increasing water efficiency
- Reuse water streams for the same or different processes
- Recycle water streams and wastewater
- Recover resources from wastewater
Read more about our water management in the Sustainability Performance supplement in the 2025 Sustainability Report.
Turning ambitions into actions: Improvements in water management
Some regions where Huhtamaki operates are classified as water-stressed, which refers to areas where the demand for water exceeds the available supply, or where water quality is poor. It is crucial for us to act as stewards of water, ensuring responsible usage and discharge.
In 2025, we updated our water KPI to evaluate our water consumption. We have also implemented Catchment Vulnerability Assessments at all sites operating in water-stressed areas.
Currently, we are improving our water monitoring systems which will help us create a credible baseline for our water use. We are also conducting more detailed risk scenario modelling at selected fiber packaging sites aiming to identify and prioritize most material risks, followed by a long-term risk mitigation plan to ensure business continuity.