HIFK reduces the amount of organic waste in the Helsinki Ice Hall in cooperation with SmartPipe
For one of Finland’s strongest brands, HIFK, responsibility is one of the guiding principles of its operations. In Helsinki’s most famous sports organization, HIFK Hockey, it is divided into environmental responsibility, equality and equality, and corporate responsibility. All aspects are taken seriously, with concrete actions and by promoting meaningful discussion. The continuous responsibility working group assembled to support the operation leads the operation through actions.
The hockey family working for carbon neutrality has also started Reducing the FOG Footprint at the Helsinki Ice Hall in cooperation with SmartPipe. The FOG footprint consists of organic waste that ends up in sewer pipes as a result of people’s living. Waste causes brittleness of pipes, unpleasant odors, blockages and ultimately additional environmental burden, such as eutrophication of waterways. In Helsinki alone, tens of tons of grease are removed from the city’s sewers every month. Companies and people play an important role in reducing this waste.
Helsingin Jäähalli is the first ice rink in Finland that has started biological pipeline maintenance. Two automatic pumps are currently in use, which dispense the microbial solution produced in Finland to the pipes of the ice rink’s kitchens. SmartPipe’s technical experts take care of the installation, maintenance and monitoring of the system. The biodegradable solution fed into the pipeline uses fat and oil waste accumulated in the pipelines in the heavily loaded ice rink as food.
Pictures from the Helsinki Ice Hall: HIFK/Kim Salin.
The amount of food prepared and consumed in the ice rink is huge, so in addition to reducing active food waste, biological pipeline maintenance works as a seamless addition to minimize the environmental impact of the rink.
Thanks to the solution containing probiotic bacteria, less organic waste is transported from the ice rink’s piping to the municipal pipe network, and the emptying interval of the rink’s grease separation wells increases. In addition, the need to use chemicals that are harmful to the environment and pipelines is reduced.
Reducing the fat footprint is one concrete act for HIFK, which can be used to change the attitude of both the Helsinki Ice Hall and the ice hockey community to be more environmentally responsible. SmartPipe’s close cooperation with HIFK serves as an example for taking the next step in environmental responsibility. We hope for you too.
IFK Helsinki’s director of marketing and responsibility Raakel Koittola takes the development of responsibility actions seriously and with enthusiasm. “We want to be at the forefront of development and act as a trendsetter, especially in matters of responsibility. Making sustainable choices and taking advantage of new innovations among several options is not always simple. In the case of SmartPipe, however, I can say that the choice was easy and the results are tangible.”
“I think it is important to use HIFK’s strong visibility in Finland for good as well. When big brands lead the way, it’s easier for others to join in as well, “Raakel sums up her thoughts on her responsibility thinking.
