Ahlström Collective Impact (ACI), a joint responsibility initiative by a group of companies and foundations, will continue supporting UNICEF's global education efforts in 2025 and remains committed to advancing children's rights in business.

This year, Ahlström Collective Impact's contribution to UNICEF's education work amounts to over EUR 750,000. Support from the private sector is critically important in today's increasingly complex global landscape, where cuts by several donor countries to international aid threaten UNICEF's global efforts to uphold children's rights.

As a member and founding partner of the ACI initiative, Ahlstrom continues to live out the Ahlström family's storied history of supporting local communities and investing in education through advocacy for children's well-being.

"Companies and foundations play a central role in promoting children's rights. It's inspiring to see that in these geopolitically challenging times, Ahlström Collective Impact is strengthening its commitment to children's well-being and reinforcing the essential work of integrating children's rights into business," says Annina Tanhuanpää, Secretary General of UNICEF Finland.

Member organizations within the ACI network are aiming to integrate a child's rights perspective into their sustainability strategies-ensuring that both direct and indirect impacts on children are recognized and addressed.

"Creating a more equitable world starts with investing in children. Through Ahlström Collective Impact, we are deepening our collaboration with UNICEF to support quality education and uphold children's rights. Together, we continue to lay the groundwork for long-term, positive change in communities around the globe. It's a commitment that reflects who we are as a company," says Helen Mets, President and CEO of Ahlstrom.

ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL LEARNING CRISIS

Children's learning is a global crisis, where up to 70% of 10-year-olds in low- and middle-income countries cannot understand a simple written text. The situation is especially dire in sub-Saharan Africa. The digital divide is also widening, with the majority of school-aged children living in households without internet access.

Member organizations of Ahlström Collective Impact support UNICEF's education efforts to address these challenges. The Ahlström family's commitment to children's education has also expanded this year to a new initiative, with the Eva Ahlström Foundation joining a Nordic funding group supporting UNICEF's research center Innocenti's "Every Child Learning" pioneer project.

UNICEF, the world's largest advocate for children's rights, promotes education in 150 countries. Its efforts include providing education in crisis situations, changing attitudes that hinder schooling, promoting quality teaching, and defending the right to education for children with disabilities and minorities. The organization works on both grassroots efforts and the development of entire education systems in collaboration with government authorities.

For further information, please contact

Annemiek Voorzee, VP Group Marketing & Communications, annemiek.voorzee@ahlstrom.com

Ahlstrom in brief

Ahlstrom is a global leader in combining fibers into sustainable specialty materials. Our purpose is to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. We aim to be the Preferred Sustainable Specialty Materials Company for all our stakeholders. Our three divisions, Filtration and Life Sciences, Food and Consumer Packaging, and Protective Materials along with Performance Materials cluster, address global trends with safe and sustainable solutions. Our net sales in 2024 amounted to EUR 3.0 billion and we employ some 7000 people. Read more at www.ahlstrom.com.

Ahlström Collective Impact in brief

The Ahlström Collective Impact collaboration model was launched in 2020. It brings together companies and foundations from the Ahlström network to invest in children's well-being through selected UNICEF projects aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. The support for UNICEF's education work in 2025 is over EUR 750,000. Members include: Ahlstrom, A. Ahlström, Ahlström Invest, Avain Yhtiöt, Destia, Detection Technology, Eva Ahlström Foundation, Glaston, Metsäkonepalvelu, M&J Recycling, Suominen, and the Walter Ahlström Foundation.