Donations made through bottle-return machines do not all work the same way. According to an Iltalehti review, three organisations can receive donations through the machines, but only one of them gets the full amount exactly for the purpose advertised.

The review found that most donations do go to the stated cause, but the differences between the organisations are significant. That matters because many people make the donation quickly during an ordinary shopping trip and may not know how the money is ultimately distributed.

Iltalehti says the findings highlight the importance of checking where a donation actually goes before paying. For consumers, it is a small everyday choice; for charities, transparency can shape how trustworthy the fundraising method appears.