UPM and the Guides and Scouts of Finland start cooperation - a mobile game about forests to be designed

(UPM, Helsinki, 5 November 2015 at 15:00 EET) - UPM and the Guides and Scouts of Finland have agreed on cooperation to work together in order to strengthen the relationship between forests and young people. The cooperation includes creation of a mobile game about forests to be used by scouts allowing them to see forests from a different point of view.

"Scouts spend a lot of time in forests. Instead of replacing traditional activities such as hiking and camping, the game will complement them. It will allow us to motivate the younger generation to learn about forests and the opportunities they offer from a completely different perspective," explains Anna Munsterhjelm, President of the Guides and Scouts of Finland.

"The Guides and Scouts of Finland is a natural partner for us to cooperate with," says Pirkko Harrela, UPM's Executive Vice President, Stakeholder Relations.

"The forest is a familiar environment for scouts as a hiking and camping site, while sustainably managed forests are the source of the raw materials we use in our recyclable products."

"Games and mobile technology offer a new and inspiring way for young people to gain new information. Together with the Guides and Scouts of Finland, our goal is to develop a game that will encourage the younger generation to learn about forests and the different species that live there, as well as the variety of ways that wood can be used," Harrela continues.

"We will attend the Slush event taking place next week on 11-12 November in Helsinki with the intention to find mobile game developers with whom we can work together in this project," says Paula Savonen, UPM's Manager, Marketing & CRM, Wood Sourcing & Forestry. Savonen will oversee the cooperation  and development of the game with the Guides and Scouts of Finland.

"We share UPM's interest in renewal and bold experimentation with new operating methods. One of the key areas in the strategy pursued by the Guides and Scouts of Finland is proactively searching for partners, because such partnerships are the best way of developing interests for the younger generation. For an association such as the Guides and Scouts of Finland, partnerships are a means of creating future operating methods," says Kaisa Koistinen, Director, Public Affairs and Communications at the Guides and Scouts of Finland. Koistinen has been in charge of preparing the project.

UPM and the Guides and Scouts of Finland can be seen working together for the first time at the Helsinki Forest Fair at the Messukeskus Expo and Convention Centre on 6-8 November. The Guides and Scouts of Finland will arrange a programme for schoolchildren at the UPM stand on Friday 6 November. On Sunday 8 November, the Guides and Scouts of Finland will give a presentation on the Tulevaisuuden Tori stage, informing the audience about what you can do and learn in the forest.

For further information, please contact:
Pirkko Harrela, Executive Vice President, Stakeholder Relations, UPM, tel. +358 (0)40 507 87 64
Paula Savonen, Manager, Marketing & Customer Support, Wood Sourcing & Forestry, UPM, tel. +358 (0)400 343 851
Anna Munsterhjelm, President, Guides and Scouts of Finland, tel. +358 (0)40 5879514
Kaisa Koistinen, Director, Public Affairs and Communications, Guides and Scouts of Finland,
tel. +358 (0)50 530 3969

UPM, Media Relations
9:00-16:00 EET
Tel. +358 (0)40 588 3284
media@upm.com

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UPM
Through the renewing of the bio and forest industries, UPM is building a sustainable future across six business areas: UPM Biorefining, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Paper Asia, UPM Paper Europe and North America and UPM Plywood. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. We serve our customers worldwide. The group employs around 20,000 people and its annual sales are approximately EUR 10 billion. UPM shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. UPM - The Biofore Company - www.upm.com

Scouting is all about friendship, laughter and unforgettable experiences. Scouting is a great hobby and is open to anyone; it fosters a sense of responsibility, develops members' leadership skills and encourages members to care about the environment and other people.

Every year, our volunteers offer more than three million hours of their time so that children and young people can experience the joys of scouting. That figure corresponds to a work input of more than 1800 youth workers.

With 65,000 members annually, the Guides and Scouts of Finland is Finland's largest youth organisation. There are around 45 million scouts in more than 200 countries around the world. Scouts are part of a global community that enables them to make the world a better place. Come and join the adventure at www.partio.fi/liity