Kekkilä-BVB is ready for sustainable global growth

Finnish Kekkilä and Dutch BVB Substrates have come together, combining decades of horticultural knowhow to create a leader in the European growing media sector. The company comes at a time when the world needs to focus on sustainable growth more than ever.

In order to meet the demands of a growing population, global food production needs to increase over 70 percent in the next 35 years. Moreover, this needs to be achieved by using less water, less energy, and by producing less waste.

“Thanks to smart technology, vast selection of raw materials and tailored solutions Kekkilä-BVB is able to offer professional growers, landscapers and consumers access to a more sustainable way of growing”, says Juha Mäkinen, CEO of Kekkilä-BVB.

Strong platform for growth

Kekkilä-BVB features vast and versatile production and supply capacity, unique R&D knowhow, a global network of distributors and retailers, and a combined 250-million-euro turnover.

The company continues with its strong professional growing and consumer brands, such as BVB Substrates, Kekkilä Professional, Kekkilä Garden, Hasselfors Garden, Jardino and Veenbaas. Focus of the new organization is to work towards creating the means for sustainable everyday living around the world through more sustainable growing of food and ornamentals, as well as taking sustainable practices forward in landscaping and home gardening sectors.

Why does the shift towards sustainable growing in horticulture has to happen now?

The European Union has set ambitious goals in order to prevent the dangers of climate change. While the target for 2030 includes cutting greenhouse emissions by 40 percent, European companies will need to produce 20 percent less greenhouse gases already by 2020 to stay on track. For the horticulture business this means both opportunities and challenges. Driven by regulation and consumer demand, growers and landscapers who manage to meet or exceed the climate goals are sure to emerge as winners.

“At Kekkilä-BVB, we are here to support our customers along the way. We have already developed tools such as the Environmental Cost Indicator concept, which helps our customers understand how choices related to sustainability impact their financial results. By sharing our proven expertise with customers and partners, we will grow together for a better future”, Mäkinen states.

We care for life, from plant to planet.

Please visit our website: kekkila-bvb.com

More information:

Juha Mäkinen
CEO, Kekkilä-BVB
+358 (0)400 464 549
juha.makinen@kekkila-bvb.com

Guido Linders
Business Director, Business unit Professional Growing
+31 (0) 77 366 93 93
GLinders@bvb-substrates.nl

Tiia Kujanpää
Business Director, Business unit Retail and Landscaping
+358 (0)40 8417108
tiia.kujanpaa@kekkila-bvb.co

Nina Kinnunen
Brand and Communications Director, Kekkilä-BVB
+358 (0)40 777 5 333
nina.kinnunen@kekkila-bvb.com

Kekkilä-BVB is one of Europe’s biggest companies in professional growing and the largest producer of horticultural peat. It is a market leader in the Nordic countries with its well established Kekkilä Garden and Hasselfors Garden brands. In Western Europe, Jardino and Veenbaas are well known among consumers, and global growers use Kekkilä-BVB’s well known growing media products sold under the BVB Substrates and Kekkilä Professional brands. Products and services are aimed at professional growers and home gardeners, horticultural raw material customers, landscapers and bedding peat customers. The total turnover of these operations amount to approximately EUR 250 million. The company employs around 500 people in Finland, Sweden, The Netherlands, Germany, Estonia and Spain. Products are exported to 100+ countries.Kekkilä-BVB is a part of Vapo Group. Vapo has a 520-million-euro turnover and it employs about 850 people. Vapo has three divisions; Grow & Care, Energy and New Businesses.