Altia named “Sustainability Trailblazer” in the first sustainability-focused event for the travel retail industry

TRBusiness magazine is the leading monthly publication for the duty free and travel retail industry. In April, TRBusiness magazine hosted the first ever sustainability-focused event for the global travel retail industry, TR Sustainability Week. The core focus of the five-day virtual event was the Sustainability Pitch initiative, which recognised and rewarded sustainable products and initiatives from the travel retail sector.

The award for “Sustainability Trailblazer” was determined by an international panel of over twenty judges from prominent airports, cruise lines, retailers and organisations. The contestants in the Sustainability Pitch were judged based on the overall environmental impact of their sustainability initiatives. The assessment included a variety of areas, such as steps to reduce plastic usage and decrease carbon footprints.

Altia was awarded the title of “Sustainability Trailblazer” thanks to its Koskenkorva Climate Action initiative and commitment towards more sustainable production practices. Since 2018, Altia has been working on developing regenerative farming practices together with its partner the Baltic Sea Action Group (BSAG) and local farmers. In 2020, farmer Jari Eerola pioneered the first batch of regeneratively farmed barley, which was used to create the world’s first product of its kind, Koskenkorva Vodka Climate Action.

“We’re very proud to receive this recognition, as it's a concrete indication, that we’re doing the right things in terms of responsibility and sustainability at Altia. Due the COVID-19 era, travelling is undergoing a transformation. It’s expected that also travel retail consumers will pay more and more attention to sustainability matters when choosing between products and brands in the future”, says Markus Haataja, Sales Director, Travel Retail at Altia.

Altia’s goal is to achieve carbon neutrality in its own production, without compensations, by 2025. Altia’s Koskenkorva distillery is a pioneer of the circular and bioeconomy, and was recognized as the Green Company of the Year award in 2018. Supporting regenerative farming methods as well as transitioning to more environmentally friendly packaging options, such as PET-bottles made from recycled plastic, enables Altia to take a holistic approach to sustainability – from production to end-of-use – and ensure that its products are the best choice for the planet.

More information:

Markus Haataja Sales Director, Travel Retail markus.haataja@altiacorporation.com