The current climate and biodiversity crisis have highlighted our over consumption of goods, wasteful use of natural resources and reliance on biodiversity. It is no longer enough for countries to simply stop producing goods. It is imperative that we curb the rate of consumption and work towards a circular economy using a model that encourages us to rethink, reduce, reuse and recycle. As the first country to produce a dedicated national roadmap to a circular economy, Finland is already in the process of reforming its economic model to enhance sustainability and transform the way citizens and businesses interact with our planet’s natural resources.
Written by The Finnish Innovation Fund, Sitra, Finland’s roadmap to a circular economy 2016-2025 outlines ways in which key country stakeholders and citizens can make the successful transition to a competitive circular economy by 2025. Shifting towards a circular economy means production and consumption are no longer based on ownership but on services. This means reusing materials and creating added value to products making it possible for everyone to benefit from a framework that is based on sharing, renting and recycling as Finland transitions to a carbon-neutral society.
This transition is only made possible due to the fundamental societal changes being made within each sector. These changes go beyond simply recycling goods, they also address the responsible use of recyclable raw materials, reforms to the way we trade and consume goods and ensuring all Finns are educated and empowered to be part of the change.
Finnish businesses are embracing the change and developing innovative, digital circular economy solutions to help us ease the strain on the earths carrying capacity and move towards a more sustainable future.
Find out how our partner companies are changing their operating models and revenue models – the ways we used to make a profit may not always work in the future.
Finland created the world’s first National Road Map to a Circular Economy (2016–2025). According to estimates, the circular economy may contribute an annual added value of at least €3 billion to the Finnish economy by 2030.
Finland’s Ambassador to the UAE, Marianne Nissilä, believes education is the foundation of any significant change. With professions of the future becoming more and more diverse, younger generations should be given access to the knowledge, understanding and the appetite essential to effect positive change.
