"The possibilities of the circular economy - ideas and insights together” brought together representatives of companies, municipalities, business development and education. The event was successful, it sparked a discussion and enabled the participants to think about the circular economy's potential.

LAB University of Applied Sciences and the Regional Council of Päijät-Häme organized the second CEI BOOST regional dissemination event in Finland on February 13 in collaboration with the MAKE - Design for long lifecycle and higher value project. The event took place at the premises of LAB University of Applied Sciences in Lahti. 

Key takeaways for participants

What did the participants learn during the event? They gained an understanding of what the green and digital transition means and how it relates to their business. In addition, they learned about the legislation related to the circular economy and EU initiatives that should be considered and how they affect business. The participants also received insights into the opportunities offered by designing for the circular economy and how to respond to future customer needs with products and services based on circular economy principles. The event offered an opportunity to understand and apply these themes in practice and to develop their company's operations in a sustainable way.

Expert presentations, discussions and learnings

The idea of the event was to bring people together, to learn from experts and other participants, to share ideas and knowledge, and to initiate cooperation. From the beginning of the event, the participants were able to exchange ideas about the circular economy from a business perspective. The participatory theme continued throughout the afternoon. After each expert presentation, participants were encouraged to share what aspects of the presentation left them pondering, what new understanding they gained, and what insights they could take back to their own work.

Green and digital transition

Antero Kutvonen from LUT University gave an overview of the green and digital transition. Kutvonen emphasized the necessity of the twin transition and highlighted the connection between the green and digital transition. He pointed out that the twin transition is also a cornerstone of EU policy, with Finland being at the forefront in terms of policy implementation. Kutvonen also mentioned that Finland is well-equipped in terms of technology and expertise to drive this transition forward. He referred to several projects within the manufacturing industry, such as the development of a digital twin for work machines. Moreover, Finland has created a roadmap for Smart Manufacturing 2035, which presents the country's proactive approach in this field.

Legislation and EU Initiatives

Topi Turunen from SYKE - Finnish Environment Institute shed light on how legislation and EU initiatives impact business operations. Turunen emphasized that within the EU, discussions have shifted from waste management to product design. He highlighted the new Ecodesign for sustainable products regulation, which introduces concepts such as a digital product passport for batteries. He also touched upon other themes such as, producer responsibility, the end of waste regulation, and the potential inclusion of the waste incineration sector in the emissions trading system. Turunen encouraged companies to prepare for the regulation and to use it as a competitive advantage.

Designing for circular economy

Meri Lundahl from Ethica spoke about the possibilities of circular design and future customer needs. She gave background information on the transition from a linear economy to a circular economy and how they frame circular economy business models and design at Ethica, the core of which is circular design strategies. Lundahl explained how companies combine circular economy principles with their design processes. She provided examples of circular design, including a collaborative project between two companies to prevent microplastic pollution. Additionally, she emphasized that consumer behavior is changing, and the customer’s role will be more active in the circular economy, moving beyond the role of the traditional buyer.

Collaborative opportunities in Päijät-Häme

In the last discussion of the day, the participants discussed their resources and needs, and possible cooperation opportunities with the aim of finding synergies that could promote the circular economy.

The purpose of the event’s discussions and exercises was to create valuable information and ideas for the participants to use in their circular economy activities. The collected data will also be used to develop the future trainings and actions of the MAKE project. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the event laid the groundwork for future partnerships and projects that could contribute to a sustainable future.