From plastics to PFAS and smarter water: Three new projects from Eastern Finland are making a difference for a cleaner Baltic Sea

Plastics, so-called forever chemicals (PFAS) and unsustainable water use are among the hidden but serious threats facing the Baltic Sea and its environment. Tackling them requires both cross-border collaboration and innovative solutions – and three new Central Baltic projects from Eastern Finland and especially South-Savo, are doing just that.

Balt-Plast-Free, led by Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltd., brings together partners from Finland and Estonia to reduce the amount of plastic waste and microplastics entering the Baltic Sea. Finnish partners also include LUT University. The project targets the reduction of microplastic pollution in the Baltic Sea, with a particular focus on emissions from wastewater treatment plants in Finland and Estonia. For the first time at EU level, the project is developing a unified testing framework that covers technical solutions as well as sampling and analytical methods for removing microplastics from wastewater. In addition, the project raises awareness among citizens and businesses and supports municipalities in practical measures to cut plastic use.

BalticPFASResolve, led by the County Administrative Board of Stockholm, is implemented with 10 partners from Finland, Estonia, Sweden and Latvia. From Finland, project partners include Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltd. and Turku University of Applied Sciences. The project addresses another emerging threat: PFAS chemicals. These substances, used for their water-, dirt- and grease-repellent properties in many consumer products, and as flame retardants in some textiles and electronic products, are extremely persistent in nature. They can accumulate in water systems, wildlife and even humans. Because of their persistent nature, they are often called “forever chemicals”, and raise growing concerns about their health impacts. The project develops and tests new methods to detect and remove PFAS from water, supporting authorities and companies in managing this complex challenge.

SIWat, also led by Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltd., focuses on smarter and more sustainable use of water resources with Finnish and Estonian partners. From Finland, other project partners are LUT-University and South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk).  The project will use pilots in Finland and Estonia to test cost-effective technological solutions for water reuse. The aim is to increase the recycling of water in industry and safeguard ground and surface waters for drinking water use. By promoting water circulation and sustainable management, the project reduces reliance on drinking water, decreases environmental pressures and opens new business opportunities.

A regional success story in a European context

While each project has its own focus, the ambition remains the same: to secure cleaner water and a healthier environment in Finland and more broadly in the Central Baltic region. Together, they highlight the strong expertise of South Savo and other Eastern Finnish regions in water technology and circular economy, with regional universities and research institutions playing a pivotal role.

This regional success is also part of a bigger picture. In the fourth call of the Central Baltic programme, South Savo performed exceptionally well: no less than five projects were approved, bringing more than €2.5 million of direct EU funding to the region. This is a clear example of how even smaller regions can leverage international cooperation and EU funding to promote innovation, sustainability and growth.

Read more about the projects and follow their journey:

• Balt-Plast-Free | Central Baltic Programme
• Balt-Plast-Free | Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltd
• BalticPFASResolve | Central Baltic Programme
• PFAS Source Tracking, Mitigation, and Remediation in the Central Baltic | Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltd
• SIWat | Central Baltic Programme
• Sustainable Industrial Waters – SIWat  | Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltd

Text: Anne Jylhä, national Contact Point Finland, 29.9.2025.