Zürich, Switzerland: Cleantech venture capital pioneer Emerald Technology Ventures announced Wednesday the addition of a new limited partner (LP), Huhtamaki, a Finnish provider of sustainable packaging solutions, into its fund. The move signifies Emerald’s growing clout in an industry moving rapidly toward a circular, low-carbon model. In packaging, Emerald aims to promote efforts to green the entire value chain, including via low-carbon feedstocks, new business models, digitization and more. Existing Emerald partners looking for packaging solutions include Beiersdorf, Chevron, Henkel, Nestlé and WM.
Emerald’s LPs have bold ambitions in sustainability that these partnerships will help them realize. Huhtamaki intends to make 100% of its products recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2030. By then, the company hopes to source all its raw fiber from recycled or certified sources, contributing to its goal of achieving net-zero emissions in its production processes.
Emerald boasts a rich track record in packaging and raw materials innovation, including the launch of a major new fund devoted to packaging sustainability in April of this year. Its unique role connecting startups with established corporations helps scale solutions to thorny problems in decarbonization, waste reduction, circularity and other fields.
“We are thrilled to be working with Huhtamaki and other major players in the push to transform the packaging sector,” says Gina Domanig, Emerald Managing Partner. “Packaging is a vital part of our modern commercial landscape, and we are excited to help develop sustainable solutions which ensure that innovation in packaging has a positive impact.”
“We embed sustainability in everything we do and are happy to invest in Emerald’s sustainable packaging fund as it is aligned with our strategic priorities,” says Charles Héaulmé, President and CEO at Huhtamaki. “We look forward to working with Emerald, whose expertise and global reach will help us explore new possibilities to create value for our customers and shareholders, as well as our employees and the planet.”