HELCOM joins World Cleanup Day along the Finnish coast 

This September, HELCOM and PROTECT BALTIC proudly took part in World Cleanup Day 2025, mobilizing efforts along the Finnish coast to tackle the growing challenge of marine litter.  

Photo: HELCOM

Cleanup activities were held in Mustikkamaa in Helsinki and on the beaches of Uniluoto, Yyteri, and Kallo in Pori. 

The events brought together enthusiastic young volunteers who dedicated their time and energy to collecting litter from shorelines and raising awareness of how pollution affects the Baltic Sea.  

Plastic waste, cigarette butts, and other discarded items were removed from sensitive coastal environments, preventing them from entering marine ecosystems where they can harm wildlife and degrade habitats. 

Photo: Kimmo Koivumäki

Beyond the immediate impact of removing waste, the cleanups also became a platform for dialogue and awareness-raising with the wider community. Curious passers-by stopped to ask questions, join short discussions, and learn more about how marine litter affects the Baltic Sea. These spontaneous interactions provided opportunities to highlight how everyday choices, such as reducing single-use plastics and disposing of waste responsibly, can make a difference.  

By engaging both volunteers and onlookers, the events helped connect local action with HELCOM’s broader regional efforts to combat marine litter, an issue recognized as one of the key pressures on the Baltic Sea environment.  

Photo: Kimmo Koivumäki

World Cleanup Day is a global initiative uniting millions of people across more than 150 countries in a single-day effort to address litter on 20 September. By joining this movement, HELCOM and PROTECT BALTIC underline the importance of collective action in achieving a cleaner and healthier Baltic Sea. 

Contact

Paul Trouth
Communications Coordinator
paul.trouth@helcom.fi