National entrepreneur award to Pramia Plastic Oy in Toholammi

Pramia Plastic Oy, which operates in Toholami, received the National Entrepreneurship Award founded by Fennia and Suomen Yrittäjie on Saturday at the National Entrepreneurship Days organized in Pori.

Pramia Plastic Oy is a trendsetter in plastic recycling in Finland and the world. The company buys plastic recycling bottles and processes them at the Toholami factory on average one million per day. At the factory, the bottles are made into plastic flake, plastic granulate and bottle blanks, i.e. preforms. In addition, 50 million meters of green packaging tape are made from colored plastic bottles every year. It is used, for example, in sawmills to assemble bundles of boards. Pramia Plastic’s production is sold to several European countries.

As a long-term entrepreneur, Marko Mäkinen has always done things that are interesting to him. Among other things, he has founded a successful alcohol factory and turned a bankrupt plastic recycling factory into a success story.

Mäkinen also made an offer for Altia’s alcohol business a year ago. The Altia deal did not materialize, but Pramia’s alcohol plant and especially Pramia Plastic, which specializes in plastic recycling, are doing well. After initial difficulties, Pramia Plastic has grown into a company with excellent results, which is a global leader in plastic recycling and the only facility in its field in Finland.

• The first seven years were very difficult, but then a huge demand started with the recycling boom. At one point, the situation was even such that buyers were competing to see who gets to buy our products, says Mäkinen.

The Finnish bottle recycling system, which according to Mäkinen is the best in the world, has provided a good background for Pramia Plastic’s growth. 96 percent of the plastic bottles used in Finland are returned to circulation.

• In Finland, we are able to make 100% recycled plastic in large volumes. In many other countries, this is not possible due to the poor quality of the raw material, says Mäkinen.

A good staff is the company’s security

Mäkinen has had a great time as an entrepreneur, but he has also learned that you can’t do everything yourself.

• We have 11 different industries and five different service processes. As an entrepreneur, you then have to divide your time into more things than would actually be enough. This is where the importance of good staff rises. I also recently had to be on sick leave, but when the company has good employees and ready-made processes, the company carries it, says Mäkinen.

Mäkinen’s greetings to other entrepreneurs are: “Take care of good staff, an entrepreneur can sometimes need more than he thinks.”

Along with his commercial successes, Mäkinen counts the recognitions he received in entrepreneurial competitions as the highlights of his career.

• The national entrepreneur award feels very good. And above all, the fact that it is granted by other entrepreneurs, states Mäkinen.

In 2022, the company received the provincial entrepreneur award of Central Ostrobothnia Entrepreneurs.

This year, the national entrepreneur award was also given to the tourism industry company Järvisydä from Rantasalmi and the industrial contract manufacturer Ouneva Group from Tuupovaara, Joensuu. The sole entrepreneur of the year award went to Sanni Luomahaara and Jani Wallenius. The young entrepreneur of the year is Emmi Lehtomaa. This year’s winners are united by a huge fire to succeed. Success is the result of bold decisions and determined development work that fuel growth.

Pramia Plastic Oy
www.pramiaplastic.fi

Founded: 2012
Main owner: Marko, Mari and Tero Mäkinen
CEO: Marko Mäkinen
Hometown: Toholampi
Employees: 17
Turnover: 7.4 million euros
Operating result: 2.3 million euros
More information: CEO Marko Mäkinen phone 0400 187 826 marko.makinen@pramia.fi

National entrepreneur award

The national entrepreneur award is an award founded by entrepreneurs from Fennia and Finland, which was awarded for the first time in 1968. The award has been awarded to more than 200 companies and entrepreneurs. The selection committee emphasizes the company’s growth, profitability, internationalization and business idea in its criteria. Today, in addition to Fennia and Suomen Yrittää, the Finnish Entrepreneurs Association and the Foundation for Private Entrepreneurs are also part of the selection committee.