The Lounapuisto project, through the Network of Eco-Industrial Parks, participated in the World Circular Economy Forum, which took place in Helsinki at the end of May. The Circular Economy Forum is an annual event organised by Sitra, which brings together business leaders, decision-makers and experts to discuss current issues and solutions for the circular economy. The event was welcomed by Jyrki Katainen, Chief Representative of Sitra, and Svein Berg, Director of Nordic Innovation. Opening remarks were delivered by European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans, and the opening panel included representatives from the World Bank (Valerie Hickey), the Nordic Investment Bank (André Küüsvek), the business community from Tetra Pak (Roberto Franchitti), Metsä Group (Ilkka Hämälä) and mining expert Patience Mpofu.

Several speeches at the Circular Economy Forum drew broad lines and strongly emphasised that the current economic model must change and take the environment into account in all activities. This can be done, for example, through product pricing, laws and regulations. The current situation, where virgin raw materials are often cheaper than recycled ones, is not conducive to a circular economy. The price of virgin raw materials should take into account the changes and damage caused to the region and its natural environment by their extraction. Circular economy solutions have also been sought, for example through producer responsibility, which seeks to influence the entire life cycle of products, from manufacture to take-back and recycling. More effective action for the environment is needed right now, and young people, including the Finnish-Ecuadorian human rights and environmental activist Helena Gualinga, provided an important reminder of this at the event.

The Network of Eco-Industrial Parks was present at the event to showcase its activities, which aim to connect Finland’s circular economy clusters. These circular economy zones aim to promote the circulation of materials, energy and knowledge between actors in the region. For example, a material that is not needed by one company can become a raw material for another. This year, the network will be led by Yrityssalo. The network of eco-industrial parks had its own stand at the event, where Lounapuisto was also represented. Seven parks presented both their own activities and those of the Eco-Industrial Parks Network. The network aroused great interest among the international guests, as this type of joint activity is not known in their countries. Discussions covered topics such as certification of parks, the importance of sharing information and the specialisation of parks.

The event also included parallel sessions on topics ranging from recycling and reuse of products and raw materials to energy, the importance of consumer choice, decision-making processes and circular economy strategies. Hydrogen and its importance as an energy source for the circular economy was the subject of interesting presentations by both ABB Oy Simo Säynevirta and Flexens Oy Szilvia Haide. Three of the most advanced start-ups in their field also spoke, including Hycamite TCD Technologies, which produces clean hydrogen and industrial-grade solid carbon by cracking methane with its own zero-emission technology, Stargate Hydrogen, which is developing an alkaline electrolysis technology to produce hydrogen from water, and Solar Foods, which is developing a technology to capture carbon dioxide from the air to produce food protein.

For many visitors, meeting and networking with people working in different sectors of the circular economy is likely to be the greatest reward of the event.

For more information on the event, please visit https://www.sitra.fi/en/projects/wcef/. The 2024 Circular Economy Forum will take place in Brussels.

Authors:

Noora Salmela, Expert, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Circular Economy Business Models Research Group

Maarit Jaakola, Senior Advisor, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Circular Economy Business Models Research Group

Jouko Urmas, Senior Advisor, Yrityssalo Oy