Sustainability Plan for the International Grand Markets 2026 Tour
(Including Waste Management Plan)
Objective
The International Grand Markets aims to be as responsible and carbon-wise an event as possible. While the event cannot currently be made entirely carbon neutral despite all efforts, the organization is committed to promoting these important issues in every way possible.
Background and Challenges
- Diverse Participants: The tour involves entrepreneurs from over 30 countries and approximately 15 different Finnish provinces.
- Communication: Representing many different cultural backgrounds and languages requires clear, understandable communication and effective supervision of regulations.
- Logistics: Operating a tour across 20 different locations presents unique challenges.
- Regional Differences: Waste sorting instructions can vary significantly between different regions in Finland, making it difficult to maintain uniform guidelines.
- Public Outreach: Communicating these goals to the general public is also a challenge, yet the guiding principle for all operations in 2026 remains being a ”responsible and carbon-wise event”.
Sustainability Measures
- Logistics: The tour route is designed to keep transitions between locations as short and logical as possible.
- Energy and Fuels: Entrepreneurs are encouraged to minimize the use of fossil fuels. For example, nearly all food producers now use electric appliances instead of gas.
- Green Electricity: The electricity used at the markets is Fortum’s 100% CO2-free electricity.
- Materials: All food entrepreneurs are required to use recyclable dishes and utensils.
- Waste Sorting: Waste is sorted as extensively as possible, specifically targeting cardboard, plastic, bio-waste, glass, and metal to minimize mixed waste.
- Training: Entrepreneurs and their employees receive extensive training and guidance on waste sorting and responsible operations.
- Public Engagement: Visitors and customers are informed about sustainability and the importance of sorting to encourage their participation.
- Transport: Customers are encouraged to use bicycles or public transportation whenever possible. Dedicated bicycle parking is arranged near the market gates whenever feasible.
Waste Management
Waste management is handled by Lassila & Tikanoja (with local operators in Rauma and Kristiinankaupunki). Efforts have been made to standardize waste category names across all tour locations.
At every location, there are 1–2 large supervised waste stations featuring:
- A compactor for cardboard waste
- A compactor for mixed waste
- 600-liter bins for plastics
- 240-liter bins for bio-waste, glass, and metal
Operational Procedures:
- Scheduling: L&T delivers bins the day before the market, performs intermediate emptying as requested by the organizer (avoiding unnecessary driving), and conducts final emptying on Monday mornings.
- Entrepreneur Requirements: Food vendors must have separate bins for all waste fractions (cardboard, mixed waste, plastic, bio-waste, glass, and metal) and ensure proper sorting.
- Monitoring and Sanctions: Waste sorting is mandatory and monitored. Failure to comply results first in a notification, then a warning, and finally a temporary suspension from the tour.
- Public Area Waste: Waste from fixed bins in the area and general public bins is primarily treated as mixed waste, as manual sorting is not safely possible due to risks such as hypodermic needles.
- Maintenance: The market area is divided into blocks that are cleaned throughout opening hours. Staff also ensure that entrepreneurs maintain the cleanliness and waste management of their own sales points.
Toilet Facilities
- Maintenance: L&T and its partners provide portable toilets and handle daily morning cleaning and emptying, as well as final emptying on Monday mornings. (Local operators are used in Rauma and Kristiinankaupunki) .
- Vendor Facilities: Separate toilets are provided for food vendors at all locations.
- Capacity: The number of portable toilets varies by location based on the availability of fixed toilets and the layout of the area. However, there is a minimum of eight portable toilets and a urinal at every site.
Harjavalta, February 22, 2026
On behalf of the International Grand Markets,
Ari Kallas TMK Tori- ja markkinakaupan palvelukeskus Oy