“UPM has been coordinating its support through the Share and Care program for almost a decade. The program takes a holistic view of the different needs of communities and provides aid to humanitarian organizations in various crisis situations,” says Kaisa Vainikka, Director of Social Responsibility and coordinator of the program.
UPM’s Annual General Meeting 2025 approved an authorization to donate €1 million to charities or other non-profit organizations. The support will focus on youth and education, as well as enhancing science-based actions to promote biodiversity and mitigate climate change. The support will be coordinated through UPM’s Share and Care program.
“In 2024–2025, UPM supported 25 causes in Finland, Poland, Germany, Uruguay, the U.S., China and Ukraine, to name a few,” says Kaisa Vainikka, highlighting some of the causes in different countries:
Biodiversity and climate change
We have contributed to significant biodiversity-driven restoration projects, such as the City of Savonlinna's Linnanvirta Restoration Project in Finland to safeguard the vitality of salmon on Lake Saimaa. We are also committed to promoting water protection in forestry in collaboration with the Baltic Sea Action Group and support the University of Helsinki research to investigate the overall climate impact of commercial forests. The research enables studies on how different types of forests contribute to climate change.
Investing in education, reading initiatives and local communities
We continued to enhance educational opportunities and reading initiatives in Finland, Germany and China. In Germany, UPM supports Stiftung Lesen, the country’s leading organization for promoting reading and learning. In China, we have been organizing the Green Future initiative for more than ten years. This initiative provides environmental education for young students, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and encouraging sustainable habits. We have also contributed to SOS Children's Villages, focusing our support to educational programs and initiatives that help children, young people and families in Finland, Poland and Germany. In Uruguay, we support the construction of infrastructure and services for soccer fields, helping to create comprehensive sports complexes for the local community of Paso de los Toros. This project was made possible thanks to the support of the Redoblando Esfuerzos Association.
Humanitarian aid for children and families in crisis
We are committed to providing long-term support to the victims of the war in Ukraine. Our aid has been channelled through the UNICEF Finland and Save the Children Finland, focusing on children and families, who are often the most vulnerable. We have also supported victims of natural disasters in Poland and the United States through local humanitarian organizations such as the Red Cross.
