MM Kotkamills is a partner of Kotka‑Jukola 2026. We wanted to get to know this local forest industry company better, so we decided to interview them. Their answers clearly convey a deep respect for both the forests and the message of Jukola. Jukola Relay sales manager Jyrki Metsola also praises this collaboration.
MM Group’s Head of Group Responsible Sourcing, Saila Kettunen, what kind of company is MM Kotkamills?
MM Kotkamills, part of MM Group, is a local forest industry company based in Kotka that exports its fibre-based products globally. Sustainability lies at the core of our operations. We produce cartonboard for food packaging and paper for the construction industry by using by-products from the sawmill industry.
What is the mission of the company and its parent company, MM Group?
We strive to improve quality of life and the vitality of the planet by innovating new solutions for the needs of people, nature, and the world.
What made MM Kotkamills join as a partner of Kotka-Jukola?
We have actively participated with an MM Kotkamills team in local orienteering clubs’ corporate orienteering leagues and open events. Since Jukola events are only rarely held in the Kymenlaakso region, we wanted to take part in this iconic Finnish mass event. It is an honor for us to take part in this major occasion and celebrate it together.
What does the Kotka-Jukola slogan “Life from the Forest” mean from your company’s perspective?
The forest is a vital lifeline and source of strength for us, just as it is for orienteers. Much like in a relay, wood chips and sawdust generated as by-products of sawing continue their lifecycle with us, being converted into cartonboard and paper, which are then recycled into new applications. In this sense, our operations truly generate life from the forest for a wide range of users.
What does the cooperation with Kotka-Jukola mean for MM Kotkamills, Managing Director Marko Pekkola?
As a local operator, it is great for MM Kotkamills to be part of Kotka-Jukola. It is important and meaningful for us to participate in events like Kotka-Jukola that encourage large groups of people to be active outdoors. We are also very pleased to support events that enhance the vitality of the region, of which Kotka-Jukola is an excellent example.
What does the cooperation with MM Kotkamills mean for Kotka-Jukola, Sales Manager Jyrki Metsola?
MM Kotkamills excellently represents the expertise of the Kymenlaakso region that we want to highlight through Kotka-Jukola. Kotka-Jukola is a unique showcase of our region’s strengths and capabilities. We greatly appreciate MM Kotkamills’ significant contribution to Kotka-Jukola, as well as to the region’s broader sports community. Sustainability at its very best!