Hartwall has made a three-year co-operation agreement with the Lake Vesijärvi Foundation. Under the agreement, Hartwall is one of the main partners in the just-launched Clean Lake Vesijärvi campaign. The aim of this campaign is that Vesijärvi will be in good or excellent condition in 2015.
Vesijärvi is the largest lake in Lahti. Only thirty years ago, the lake was infested with thick blue-green algae. The eutrophied lake, spoiled by the wastewater of decades past, was revitalised with major rehabilitation measures during the Vesijärvi campaign. However, research carried out during the process showed that constant efforts are required to maintain the lake in recreational and fishing use.
To save Vesijärvi and ensure the quality of its water for generations to come, the City of Lahti, the municipality of Hollola, the municipality of Asikkala, the Industrial Association of Lahti, Esan Kirjapaino Oy and Kemppi Oy established the Lake Vesijärvi Foundation. The foundation raises funds for the Clean Lake Vesijärvi programme. The funds are used for saving Vesijärvi and small lakes in the Lahti area, researching and maintaining bodies of water in the economic area, and mobilising socially responsible environmental management at the local level.
Hartwall is the main co-operation partner of the Clean Lake Vesijärvi campaign under a three-year agreement.
“Clean water is the most important raw material used by our company. It’s our responsibility to take steps to ensure its future availability. Vesijärvi is located in the same groundwater catchment area from which our Lahti unit sources its excellent water. It’s the natural thing for us to do to take on responsibility for the future of Vesijärvi,” says Production Director Esa Vataja, Hartwall Lahti.
Supporting the Lake Vesijärvi Foundation enables continuous monitoring, research and rehabilitation of Vesijärvi over the long term. The foundation distributes the funds raised to different parties that implement the programme measures and take care of the waters. Grants and aid are awarded by application.
The activities of the foundation are overseen and supported by a 24-person committee, whose chairman is the former Minister of Finance Iiro Viinanen. The chairman of its Board of Directors is Jyrki Myllyvirta, mayor of Lahti. The Board is advised by a group of professors representing three universities.
The aim of the Clean Lake Vesijärvi campaign is that Vesijärvi will be in good or excellent condition in 2015.
For additional information, contact:
Hartwall Ltd, Production Director Esa Vataja, esa.vataja@hartwall.fi, or tel. +358 20 717 6239
Clean Lake Vesijärvi campaign, representative Pekka Koivisto, pekka.koivisto@lahti.fi, tel. +358 40 516 9271