Circular economy now! Solving the problem

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

NOW!

Solving the problem

Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

LIFE15 IPE FI 004

Contents

CIRCWASTE FINLAND LIFE IP – Towards Circular Economy in Finland .............................................................................................................................3 Solutions for promoting a circular economy ...................................................................................................................................................................................5 More results in municipalities with knowledge ..................................................................................................................................................................7 Regional recycling information to support regional decision-making ......................................................................................................................................8 Mixed waste composition studies help in the targeting of waste counselling ........................................................................................................................9 Smart waste management helps residents to improve sorting efficiency and prevent waste generation ...................................................................11 Solutions supporting the circular economy reduce environmental impacts ........................................................................................................................12 Counselling, education and trials by city residents ......................................................................................................................................................................14 Circular economy practices were introduced into residents’ daily lives and as new services ........................................................................................15 Road map to a circular economy brings together tried-and-true environmental education lessons ............................................................................17 Mixed waste in a hospital can be reduced by means of education and planning ................................................................................................................ 18 Concrete means and models for promoting circular economy work and collaborative development in the municipality ................................... 18 Peer networks support commitment on the way from regional cooperation to a road map ........................................................................................19 Circular economy criteria produce sustainable procurements ...............................................................................................................................................21 Increasing reuse with a new network ................................................................................................................................................................................... 23 Communications trials are an important part of the project’s impact work ...................................................................................................................... 25 Conserving natural resources with sustainable business .......................................................................................................................................... 27 Regional development companies support new business and industrial symbioses .......................................................................................................... 29 Recycled magnets support self-sufficiency and security of supply ......................................................................................................................................... 30 New generation of waste management processes still requires testing ............................................................................................................................... 30 Workshop concept for industrial symbioses was developed to help launch new regional business .............................................................................31 Effective at-source sorting is a requirement for the circular economy of construction and agriculture plastic films ............................................ 32 Hard-to-recycle plastic waste is suitable for composite ........................................................................................................................................................... 33 Halving food waste and efficient biocycles ........................................................................................................................................35 Feed products from food industry side streams ......................................................................................................................................................................... 36 Tips for halving food waste as a national road map .................................................................................................................................................................... 36 Biogas production volumes are increasing, recovery rate has increased ............................................................................................................................. 37 Regionally produced biogas is an economy, emission and security of supply matter ....................................................................................................... 38 Efficiency to grocery shop supply chains with a digital cloud service ................................................................................................................................... 39 Possibilities for recycling construction materials .......................................................................................................................................................... 41 At-source sorting of construction waste can be done successfully, but requires incentives, the client’s requirements and guidance .............. 42 Reuse and correct material choices for construction ................................................................................................................................................................ 43 Use of industrial side streams and contaminated sediments will generate significant economic savings and environmental benefits .............. 44 Mass coordination brings significant economic and environmental savings ........................................................................................................................ 45 Circular economy lessons learned from road construction pilots for national use with the help of guides ............................................................. 46

CIRCWASTE FINLAND LIFE IP – Towards Circular Economy in Finland Circular economy as the new normal and ensuring good recycling rates. The seven-year mandate has been clear. In the Circwaste – Towards Circular Economy in Finland (2016–2023) project funded by the EU’s LIFE IP programme, a wide range of actors – research institutes, universities, universities of applied sciences, regional councils, municipalities, municipal development companies and other companies – has participated in making Finland the number one circular economy. blog posts

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A systemic change requires extensive cooperation, the identification and implementation of all possible means and active and visible real-time communication. It is precisely this work that the actors have done in the project in their respective areas of expertise. The Circwaste project is now likely the largest and most well-known circular economy project in Finland.

With the support of the EU and numerous other funders, the project has produced a large amount of diverse information and solutions for municipalities, residents, supporting business activities and the needs of administration and decision-making.

As an end result, the project has created municipal and national monitoring data on the progress of circular economy and recycling, indicators for monitoring the situation in the future and means for increasing reuse, reducing plastic waste and food waste, utilising biogas and nutrients, recycling construction materials and changing consumer behaviour.

The world has changed during the course of the project, but the need for conscious and determined circular economy work remains – the work continues in the new projects, networks and monitoring materials created by the project. Development into a circular economy society is still ongoing, and there is a great need for all results!

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published newsletters

2,900

published Twitter/ X posts

700

newsletter subscribers

2,160

followers on Twitter/X

About

50,000

Google search results for the word Circwaste

About

100

events organised

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

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Circwaste project regions and pioneering municipalities on the map of Finland

Finland as a forerunner in circular economy

Rovaniemi

Ii

Circwaste region

Kuopio

Forerunner municipalities

Central Finland

North Karelia

Jyväskylä

Southwest Finland

South Karelia

Turku

4

Lahti Riihimäki Vantaa

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

Lappeenranta

Porvoo © Finnish Environment Institute. 2023 Basemap: National land survey of Finland.

Solutions for promoting a circular economy

Circular economy policy aims to comprehensively achieve the different dimensions of sustainability – sustainable growth and a climate-neutral, resource-efficient and competitive economy that operates within the limits of the environment’s carrying capacity. These goals are pursued by preserving products, materials and other resources and their value in the economy as long and safely as possible, by decoupling economic growth from material consumption, by preventing and reducing waste, by conserving natural resources and biodiversity and by reducing environmental load. The aim of circular economy policy is therefore to solve very multidimensional sustainability problems. An important waste policy tool, the National Waste Plan to 2027, supports the achievement of the goals through measures promoting the prevention, reduction, reuse and recycling of waste and improvement of the quality of available information.

The transition to a circular economy and the achievement of the objectives of the National Waste Plan mean changes in production, in the activities of companies and municipalities and in people’s daily lives. The Circwaste project has produced numerous solutions for achieving the National Waste Plan and circular economy objectives.

A total of 23 project partners, four pilot regions and a network of ten pioneering municipalities were involved in seeking solutions in Finland for accelerating a circular economy in municipalities. As a result, the project identified ways to achieve the National Waste Plan and circular economy objectives with regard to different themes:

More results in municipalities with knowledge Increasing reuse with a new network Conserving natural resources with sustainable business Halving food waste and efficient biocycles Possibilities for recycling construction materials

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

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Monitoring shows that the trend in the waste sector is wrong.

Actions are needed now!

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CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

More results in municipalities with knowledge

Due to the diverse nature of a circular economy and the policy objectives guiding towards it, progress cannot be measured with a single figure. To measure the current situation and the direction of changes, a wide range of regional circular economy indicators were developed, such as the monitoring of waste volumes, recycling rates, employment, education offering and sharing economy services.

municipal waste, or 629 kg per capita. This is higher than the EU average (530 kg in 2021). The share of material recovery was only 39%. In 2025, 55% of municipal waste should be recycled in Finland, and 60% already in 2030. Finland does not perform well in this regard either: In 2021, material was recovered from 49% of municipal waste in the EU.

Relative development of municipal waste, GDP and recycling rate 2006–2021

Trends in the amount and recycling rate of municipal solid waste from 2010 to 2021

Indice, reference year 2010 = 100 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 2006 2009 2012 2015 2018

Amount of municipal waste, indice, reference year 2010 Recycling rate of municipal waste, % Gross domestic product at market prices, indice, reference year 2010

2021 preliminary data Source: Statistics Finland. © Finnish Environment Institute.

The wastage of natural resources is evident through a greater increase in waste production and a decrease in recycling rates compared to economic growth.

X 100000

At the national level, Finland is facing major challenges according to waste indicators: the amount of municipal waste has increased, and the recycling rate has decreased, which means that the trend in the waste sector has been totally wrong. In 2021, Finland produced nearly 3.5 million tonnes of

The National Waste Plan also mentions the producing of more detailed, regional waste information and the increasing of waste awareness as objectives. Finland’s Strategic Programme for Circular Economy, on the other hand, states that instead of sharing information, strengthening community spirit and ways to participate are required. Several solutions and operating models have been produced to support the objectives, especially for municipalities.

40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

Recycling rate, %

2011

2013

50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

2015 2017 2019 2021 Energy recovery (tonnes) Material recovery (tonnes) Landfill and other final disposal (tonnes) Source: Statistics Finland. © Finnish Environment Institute.

Waste amounts have increased and recycling decreased.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

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More results in municipalities with knowledge

Regional recycling information to support regional decision-making Regional leadership benefits from regional information.

The household waste volume and recycling rate monitoring developed for municipal regions showed that the recycling rate improved in almost every pioneering municipal region.

In some regions, waste volumes decreased as expected, but increased in others.

According to social indicators, a circular economy also offers employment opportunities for the disadvantaged, and libraries can serve as a gateway to a sharing economy.

Environmental education lays the foundation for future competence. According to the indicators, the education offering related to the circular economy is increasing throughout the country. In the future, educational institutions can advertise their course selection related to the circular economy through the koulutustakiertotalouteen. fi website developed in the project.

4%

Over of those employed with pay subsidy and in a work try-out work as recycling workers

UAS circular economy course selection has increased

Household waste recycling rate has increased in nearly all of the regions included in the monitoring (2016–2021)

Average

67

item loans from libraries per 1,000 inhabitants each year

41%

between academic years 2019–2020 and 2021–2022

More than

1,000

credits of circular economy education available at UASs

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Read more: CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

► koulutustakiertotalouteen.turkuamk.fi/in-english

More results in municipalities with knowledge

Change in the amount and recycling rate of household waste in 2016–2021

Jyväskylä region

Riihimäki region

Hyvinkää region

Forssa region*

Kuopio Joensuu

Turku region*

Jyväskylä

Lahti Forssa Riihimäki Turku Hyvinkää Porvoo Vantaa

Lappeenranta

Vantaa region **

Kuopio region Total amount of household waste increased Total amount of household waste decreased

Lahti region*

Recycling rate of household waste increased Recycling rate of household waste decreased

Joensuu region

Lappeenranta region

Mixed waste composition studies help in the targeting of waste counselling Mixed waste composition studies provide important information on the material content and sorting efficiency of mixed waste. This information can be used in the targeting of waste counselling and in making deficiencies in separate waste collection visible.

In Central Finland, the composition of mixed household waste was studied in 2015, 2017, 2021 and 2023. Mixed household waste in the region consists mostly of plastic and biodegradable waste, which together account for more than 40% of mixed waste. About one fifth of the biodegradable waste is tissue paper. The study area has long been subject to the obligation to sort biodegradable waste, and it is used in biogas production. The share of correctly sorted mixed waste increased significantly from 2017, and the share of biodegradable waste has decreased.

This good news indicates that less and less waste not meant for mixed waste is sorted into it.

The Finnish Environment Institute has studied the composition of mixed waste and energy waste produced by grocery shops in 2022 and the composition of mixed waste in the hospitality industry in 2023. The results show that plastic and biodegradable waste are the most common materials in both mixed and energy waste and waste produced by commerce and services. Education on the collection of plastics and biodegradable waste as separate material should be increased in companies in the commerce and service sector. ► Read more (in Finnish):

* Data from 2018–2021 (others 2016–2021) ** Monitoring by Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY Source: Finnish Environment Institute.

Porvoo region

► keskisuomi.fi > Asiakirjat ja ajankohtaiset > Ajankohtaista > Tiedotteet > Hae: Keski-Suomen sekajätteen koostumus on selvitetty CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

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More results in municipalities with knowledge

Average material consistency of mixed municipal solid waste from grocery trade (mass %) Others* 2.5% Metal 1.2% Glass 1.3% Large items 2.5% Cardboard 11.9%

Plastics 22.8%

Amount of plastic in grocery shops mixed waste

Paper 15.9%

23%

Biowaste 21.1%

Mixed waste 20.7%

Amount of plastic in grocery shops energy waste

* Others contains 0.8% WEEE, batteries and accumulators, 0.7% textiles and shoes, 0.6% wood and 0.3% hazardous substances Source: Finnish Environment Institute.

38%

The results show that the most common materials are plastic and biowaste.

Consistency of mixed household waste from Central Finland in 2017, 2021, and 2023 2017

30%

2021

2023

25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0%

Biowaste

Cardboard Paper

Plastics Wood

Plastic packaging

Household waste also consists mostly of plastic and biowaste.

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CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

Glass Metal

Texstiles and shoes

Hazardous substances* WEEE and Micellaneous accumulators

Source: Finnish Environment Institute.

More results in municipalities with knowledge

Smart waste management helps residents to improve sorting efficiency and prevent waste generation In City of Jyväskylä’s residential area Kangas, which is built in an old industrial area, residents were encouraged to reduce the amount of waste by installing smart locks in the waste bins. Information on the number of times waste bins were opened was shared openly in the area’s own online portal, and residents’ participation in reducing the generation of mixed waste was promoted through gamification. As a result of the innovative waste system, promoting participation, communication and campaigning, the area’s residents were inspired to improve sorting efficiency. Smart waste management has helped in improving sorting efficiency and preventing waste generation.

Over

1 ,000

residents have smart waste management At the Kangas residental area digitalisation meets historical surroundings. Photos: City of Jyväskylä.

Read more: ► circwaste.fi > Circwaste > Subprojects by area > Central Finland > Added intelligence to waste management in Kangas, Jyväskylä

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

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More results in municipalities with knowledge

Solutions supporting the circular economy reduce environmental impacts In studies, the emissions of recycled raw materials are usually lower than those of virgin raw materials. In the life cycle calculations prepared by the Finnish Environment Institute, climate-related benefits in waste management are particularly great by ensuring the recycling of metals. Recycling plastics also brings clear climate benefits. By treating biodegradable waste by anaerobic digestion instead of composting, the benefits of treating biodegradable waste can be improved, as in this case biogas from the anaerobic digester can be utilised as energy and the reject nutrients can be utilised as substitutes for chemical fertilisers.

In the modellings prepared by the Finnish Environment Institute, the overall impacts of the National Waste Plan’s key objectives were assessed. Modelled objectives included halving food waste, reducing gravel extraction in construction (20%), increasing the raw material use of textile-based recycled materials (2 kg/person/year), increasing tool rental and leasing activities (€50/person/year) and increasing reuse of consumer electronics (€50/person/year).

Recycling, too, consumes energy and raw materials and causes environmental load. However, not recycling would have even more negative impacts on the environment.

The included raw materials were plants, fish, game, wood, fossil fuels, metals, industrial minerals, construction minerals and gravel. The most significant savings in raw materials were achieved by reducing gravel extraction in construction.

Incineration of mixed waste currently produces more emissions than average energy production in Finland.

The reuse of consumer electronics and increased recycling of textiles would have the most positive impact on the economy, as they would increase productivity, added value and employment.

From a life-cycle perspective, the greatest benefit for the environment would be reducing material consumption, that is, that waste would not be produced in the first place.

Environmentally extended input-output modelling can be used to assess regional overall impacts from the perspective of greenhouse gas emissions, the economy, the use of natural resources, employment and the extraction of raw materials.

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CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

The most significant environmental benefits of these measures would be a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and the use of raw materials in all scenarios at the national level.

Increasing the rental and leasing of tools and reducing gravel extraction would, on the other hand, reduce employment to some extent.

Reducing food waste throughout the food chain, however, would clearly increase added value in restaurants and food services due to the reduction in raw material costs.

More results in municipalities with knowledge

Increased reuse of consumer electronics would reduce emissions by

34 Mkg

CO2-ekv compared to now

Replacing minerals with recycled raw materials would save

1,031 Mkg

In the food waste scenario, plant raw material use would decrease by

of gravel compared to now

35 Mkg compared to now

Halving food waste would reduce emissions by

28 Mkg CO2-ekv compared to now

Reuse and tool rental/leasing would reduce the use of metals by

45 Mkg and 32 Mkg compared to now

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

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More results in municipalities with knowledge

Counselling, education and trials by city residents

The regional needs of residents can best be determined by asking about them

Circular economy trial ideas for everyday lives in Jyväskylä. Photos: Paula Wilkman, Beda Räsänen and Hanna-Kaisa Hämäläinen.

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CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

More results in municipalities with knowledge

Circular economy practices were introduced into residents’ daily lives and as new services In City of Jyväskylä, practical circular economy trial ideas have been collected from residents, companies and communities through an idea hunt.

Jyväskylä students familiarised themselves with shared cars.

During the trial, the utilisation rate of shared cars was four times that of private cars.

The use of shared cars will continue in student housing.

The user-oriented trials have promoted the embedding of everyday circular economy and sustainable lifestyle practices in residents’ daily lives, increased environmental awareness, changed attitudes and perceptions and facilitated the implementation of the circular economy in residents’ daily lives.

The trials have helped in the launching or developing of everyday circular economy services for residents. In the trials, entrepreneurs, for instance, were able to test their service concept and develop their business model based on experiences. It is essential to find already at an early stage a trial implementer who could continue the activities The New Life for after the trial.

Successful trials

Textiles and Clothes workshops experimented with extending the service life of clothes. The trial showed that there is demand for the training and development of everyday crafts and handiwork. The workshops and courses will continue after the trial.

The Sustainable Lifestyle Services in the Map Service trial collected local services that support a sustainable lifestyle in the City of Jyväskylä’s map service.

The sustainable lifestyle map service level is now a permanent and updated part of the city’s map service.

Read more: ► circwaste.fi > Circwaste > Subprojects by area > Central Finland > Trials by city residents promote the circular economy

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

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More results in municipalities with knowledge

Resident survey

Making the current sustainability work visible

Participation in workshops and teams

Cooperation across industry and organizational Stakeholder boundaries cooperation, comments and suggestions

Change management Procurement Construction Urban planning and land use Natural resources and biodiversity The circular economy of everyday life Environmental knowledge Transportation Circular economy business Renewable energy Cooperation

Road map towards a resourcewise Pori

Linking the road map to the city strategy Website solution as a communication and promotion tool

Political commitment

Source: City of Pori, Finland

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CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

More results in municipalities with knowledge

Road map to a circular economy brings together tried-and-true environmental education lessons The City of Pori’s Luuppi sub-project has invested diversely in environmental education and promoted a sustainable lifestyle for consumers in different circular economy themes and among various target groups.

The electronic environment path includes a visiting programme for schoolchildren and three learning modules.

The moving Muovin Matka (Journey of Plastic) exhibition has reached thousands of visitors from schoolchildren to other residents every year. The exhibition and video on plastics have been implemented together with waste counselling services in the region.

In 2019–2021, the project participated in the implementation of the Food Waste Week and has invested in reducing food waste in schools. During the monitoring, the amount of plate waste has been measured, there has been communications about food waste and pupils have been encouraged to reduce food waste, among other things. The education has worked, as the average plate waste per pupil decreased by more than one third from 11 grams to 7 grams during the monitoring years.

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procurements supported by circular economy objectives during the project

Home composting of small residential buildings grew by

26%

more than in 2018–2020

Pupil-specific plate waste decreased by over

35%

On the other hand, composting counselling offered to areas with small residential buildings proved to be an effective way of increasing home composting: the growth was over 26%.

The City of Pori is currently implementing a resource-wise road map to a circular economy that brings together Pori’s Circwaste project’s results, sustainability actions and commitments to responsibility, the circular economy and low-carbon promotion under one operating model.

Read more (in Finnish): ► www.pori.fi/luuppi

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

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More results in municipalities with knowledge

Mixed waste in a hospital can be reduced by means of education and planning

Concrete means and models for promoting circular economy work and collaborative development in the municipality

In the Central Finland Health Care District, the hospital waste management was revamped. A hospital’s waste management involves special safety issues and, on the other hand, the functioning of waste management in a large hospital is an important part of smooth daily life in the hospital.

The practical and concrete Kiertotalouden työkirja kunnille (Circular Economy Workbook for Municipalities) brings together the different stages of the implementation of a circular economy and triedand-true trials and tools from different parts of Finland. The workbook made by the Council of Tampere Region presents functional methods that invite residents to participate in the circular economy across sectoral boundaries.

In the planning of the new Hospital Nova, waste management was considered from the beginning.

Careful planning and increasing employees’ waste competence helped to reduce the amount of mixed waste. Hiring an environmental expert helped in the development of the hospital’s waste management.

Recycling rate increased by over 10% between 2019 and 2022

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With the help of the workbook’s workshop model, a municipality can organise a workshop that steers the participants towards a circular economy discussion. The City Portrait method provides the starting point for defining a city’s social and ecological goals from both local and global perspectives.

The Ekothon collaborative development process has been developed to strengthen regional cooperation. The methods are described in the workbook.

Suomen ympär istökeskukse n koordinoima n Circwaste-ha nkkeen raport ti

Municipalities can also find more practical examples of the implementation of the circular economy from the Circular Economy in Municipalities report in which the Finnish Environment Institute has compiled good practices implemented in municipalities.

Read more:

Read more (in Finnish):

► circwaste.fi > Circwaste > Subprojects by area > Central Finland > Resource-efficient operating model for a hospital

► circwaste.fi > Työkalut > Kuntien kiertotaloustyökirja ► helda.helsinki.fi > Asiakasorganisaatiot > Suomen ympäristökeskus - Julkaisuarkisto > Syke-hankkeiden julkaisuja > Kiertotalous kunnissa ► circwaste.fi > Työkalut > Kuntien kiertotaloustyökirja > Yhteiskehittäminen ja osallistaminen

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

Kiertotalou s kunnissa Tuuli Myllym aa, Hanna Savolahti, Kati Pitkän Tiina K. M. en, Hanna Karppinen, Salmenperä, Kati Vierikk Katriina Alhola o, Essi Silvon , en, Jyri Seppä lä

More results in municipalities with knowledge

Peer networks support commitment on the way from regional cooperation to a road map Regional coordinators have established contacts between municipalities, companies, administration representatives and the general public, launched new activities to increase material efficiency and recycling rates and established a cooperation group for each region from the representatives of municipalities, companies and administration.

The Circwaste project has been implemented in four regions in Southwest and Central Finland and in South and North Karelia. A cooperation group has been set up in each region to provide support and specialist help for promoting the circular economy and implementing the National Waste Plan.

Each cooperation group has been led by a regional coordinator whose task has been to launch new activities to increase material efficiency and recycling rates.

Under the leadership of the coordinators, the cooperation groups have jointly turned the regional goals and measures into a road map to a circular economy, which is a key tool for accelerating circular economy work.

Regional strengths and challenges have been taken into account in the road map work, and the activities have been focused on selected priorities. Accordingly, different areas have achieved different kinds of successes.

North Karelia has successfully introduced the circular economy to climate, energy and regional programmes

and launched a comprehensive regional network of circular economy actors. The Regional Council has also examined the amount of waste generated by its activities and compiled a list of concrete measures that can be used to reduce the generation of waste.

Several networks promoting the circular economy have been established in Southwest Finland, such as Kiertotalousverkosto (Circular Economy Network), Jäteneuvonnan ja viestinnän foorumi (Waste Counselling and Communications Forum) and Älykkään erikoistumisen ruokaverkosto (Smart Specialisation Food Network). Several studies supporting sustainable business have also been carried out on, for example, construction and the cultivation and selective breeding of protein crops in Southwest Finland. The current state and development needs of waste management have also been examined. In addition, numerous training courses and webinars have been organised in the area, such as a training course for municipal officials on public procurement that is sustainable and promotes the circular economy.

In Central Finland, the project has promoted the circular economy in Central Finland and the Regional Council of Central Finland. As a result of the project, the circular economy has been strongly included in the regional strategy alongside the bioeconomy. The Regional Council has been involved in organising events with more than 1,000 listeners. The results have also been presented abroad at, for example, the ISWA 2019 World Congress organised by the International Solid Waste Association. The Regional Council has also contributed to the launch of numerous circular economy projects in the region by, for example, bringing actors together.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

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More results in municipalities with knowledge

Circular economy village is a tool, desiged by young people, that were used in workshops in Uniori and Ilmastofestarit.Photos: City of Lappeenranta and Rautjärvi.

In South Karelia, the regional cooperation group has been active and has participated in the planning of various projects and new operating methods in smaller groups in, for example, the themes of textiles, tailings, plastics recycling and sorting and collection of biodegradable waste. During the project, a large concept package for resident-oriented circular economy functions and education has also been developed, such as school climate festivals, building a circular economy village, the Ekopoli circular economy game, Meil Kaikki Kiertää (Everything Circulates Here) resident events in small municipalities and the Tuo tullessas, Vie Mennessäs (Leave Something, Take Something) goods exchange table.

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CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

More results in municipalities with knowledge

Circular economy criteria produce sustainable procurements Turku University of Applied Sciences and the Finnish Environment Institute have promoted circular economy procurements by organising training courses and webinars, sharing good examples and collecting information online and in two published handbooks.

The Circular Economy Procurement Handbook illustrates circular economy procurements and their impacts and offers tools for their implementation.

The publication Julkiset kiertotaloushankinnat – Circwaste-edelläkävijäkuntien kokemuksia ja näkökulmia (Public Circular Economy Procurements – The Experiences and Perspectives of the Pioneering Circwaste Municipalities), on the other hand, highlights circular economy procurements in the pioneering municipalities and compiles background factors and challenges for the success of circular economy procurements in municipalities. The results are based on an interview study conducted in the project in 2021.

The publications are intended for all those working with public procurement: persons making procurements, procurement specialists and experts in different fields. They can be used in the strategic management of procurements and in procurement in practice. Information on municipalities’ circular economy procurements is also useful for companies participating in competitive tendering.

Kiertotalous hankintoje n käsikirja

During the project, the City of Pori supported 15 procurements that promoted circular economy objectives. The city also produced a prototype of a procurement tool that guides the person making the procurement to take into account the organisation’s own sustainability commitments and sustainability issues related to the procurement.

Read more (in Finnish): ► issuu.com/suomenymparistokeskus > Stacks > Syken hankkeiden julkaisuja > Kiertotaloushankintojen käsikirja ► www.theseus.fi > Kokoelmat / Turun ammattikorkeakoulu > Julkaisut > Julkiset kiertotaloushankinnat – Circwasteedelläkävijäkuntien kokemuksia ja näkökulmia

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

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Reuse centres, flea markets and repair services promote reuse

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CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

Increasing reuse with a new network

Bringing reuse to a new level is a vision of the National Waste Plan. Promoting reuse and recycling in the utilisation of industrial side streams and in the value chains of key materials is an objective of Finland’s Strategic Programme for Circular Economy.

A national RENET network of parties enThe RENET network will continue its activigaged in reuse activities was established ties after the project, build up its members to strengthen the status and operating base, collect the necessary information A nationwide conditions of reuse. According to the to support the activities of its members solution to increase EU’s and Finland’s circular economy and and encourage its member actors to reuse was found: waste policy, reuse is a priority activmonitor reuse volumes. More detailed ity that, despite expectations, has not volume information can be used to asestablished its role in the consumption sess the significance and potential of practices of citizens, the public sector reuse, but also to meet the EU’s inforand companies. mation needs. Increasing the preparation for reuse also responds to the challenge Reuse means reusing a product completeof increasing the recycling rate of municipal ly or partially for the same purpose as it was waste. originally designed. Reuse is promoted by, for example, In spring 2023, a survey for electronic and traditional flea reuse centres, flea markets and various product repair markets was conducted to investigate the reuse of clothservices. The diverse reuse sector needs to be supported ing, furniture and electric devices. Textiles are the most by a promoter and advocate that promotes cooperation and visibility between its members, and the new RENET circulated reused products by volume. network has been set up to meet precisely these needs.

RENET network

◄ A media excursion surrounded by abundance of goods was a memorable occasion that made an impact in the media.

Photo: Timo Alanko.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

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Increasing reuse with a new network

How often have you bought second-hand instead of new?

Cannot say 1%

Very often 13%

Not at all 20% Fairly often 14% N = 975 Seldom 28% Sometimes 25%

Most products are purchased new

How often have you sold or given away old items?

Cannot say 0% Not at all 12%

Very often 8%

Seldom 24% Fairly often 18%

N = 975

Delivering used products for reuse is more common than buying used products

Sometimes 38%

Second-hand buyers within different age groups 66.0%

60.4% 49.2% 37.8%

15–29 years

30–49 years

50–69 years

70–86 years

Source: Finnish Environment Institute, Circular economy barometers 2023.

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CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

Reuse is most common among younger age groups

Increasing reuse with a new network

The amount of waste electric and electronic equipment prepared for reuse has increased t 3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Source: Statistics Finland, circular economy indicators / Pirkanmaa ELY Centre Producer Responsibility statistics. The change in 2019 directive diminishes the comparability of time series data.

Waste electric and electronic equipment is an important material resource as digitalisation and the green transition increase the need for different types of metals. Reuse reduces waste and conserves natural resources. Preparation for reuse means the preparation of a decommissioned product or its components so that they can be reused.

Communications trials are an important part of the project’s impact work Reuse is a subject that affects us all. It is also a subject about which young people are interested. In recent years, many new social media influencers who produce content from the perspective of sustainable fashion and consumption have emerged. Vintage fashion, learning forgotten handicrafts, such as mending, and restoring and customising old things is now in!

During the project, we carried out various new communication trials, such as live broadcasting on social media, and social media influencer cooperation on Instagram.

These combined interaction between researchers and young people in a way that is not typical of research institutes.

Through communication trials, we reached new target groups and gained valuable experience of social media channels and influencer cooperation

Impactful communications through new trials!

Read more: ► issuu.com/suomenymparistokeskus > Stacks > Syken hankkeiden julkaisuja > CircBrief: The pioneer municipalities are masters of reuse

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

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Companies and industry play an important role in taking recycling to the right direction

Kuva: Tuuli Myllymaa

Results show that sustainable business can also be profitable

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CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

Conserving natural resources with sustainable business Hundreds of millions of tonnes of raw materials are used annually to manufacture products in Finnish industry. According to Statistics Finland, the consumption of materials extracted from Finnish nature and materials imported from abroad (DMC, Domestic Material Consumption) was 245 million tonnes in 2021. The number has increased by 21 million tonnes since 2015. Finland’s consumption of materials is the highest in the EU per capita.

The high consumption is the result of the high level of consumption and, in particular, the huge amount of sand and gravel used. DMC has been selected as one of the UN sustainable development indicators. It sums up materials taken from domestic nature and materials imported from or exported to abroad as raw materials or processed products.

Finland’s material consumption 2021:

245

million tonnes

Circular material use rate by material and in total in 2013 to 2021, and EU average

Circular material use rate 2021:

14% 12%

4.4%

Eu average

10% 8% Metal ores Biomass Non-metallic minerals Finland, all materials total Fossil energy materials

6% 4% 2% 0% 2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Source: Statistics Finland. © Finnish Environment Institute.

Finland’s figures are significantly lower than the EU average.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

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Conserving natural resources with sustainable business

The greater the need for materials, the more important it is to use recycled raw materials instead of virgin materials. The circular material use rate (CMU) describes the ratio of recycled waste to all materials consumed in the national economy. By default, a high circular material use rate describes lower consumption of virgin materials and more efficient waste recovery.

Of the companies examined,

42%

report using recycled material in their production In companies using recycled raw materials, the share of recycled raw materials procured from outside the process is

Statistics Finland has produced information on the circular material use rate as part of the Circwaste project.

In 2021, 11 million tonnes of waste were recovered as material in Finland, and the circular material use rate was 4.4%. This is significantly below the EU average (11.7%).

Mineral waste accounted for 65% of the use of recycled raw materials.

The circular material use rate has varied fairly little from year to year, and it has not begun to grow despite the objectives. According to a study conducted for companies operating in Finland, approximately 40% of companies report that they use recycled raw materials on their websites.

The most commonly used recycled raw material is plastic.

Finland’s Strategic Programme for Circular Economy has set the goal of curbing the total domestic consumption of virgin raw materials to the level of 2015 by 2035 and of doubling resource productivity and the circular material use rate by 2030. The objectives set out in the National Waste Plan include making business operations greener by increasing the value of environmental business and employment in the waste management and recycling sector.

69%

Recycled materials’ share of all materials used in production in the companies examined is mostly between

1% and 20%

Read more:

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CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

► stat.fi/index_en > Products and services > Circular economy > Indicators for the circular economy ► www.stat.fi/en/statistics/jate ► ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser > Data navigation tree > Tables on EU policy > Circular economy indicators > Secondary raw materials > Circular material use rate

Conserving natural resources with sustainable business

Regional development companies support new business and industrial symbioses The task of regional development companies is to promote business in the region, and they supported the development of new circular economy business in the Circwaste project.

Business Joensuu and Digipolis provided consultation and sparring for companies and identified concrete development areas for circular economy business. Business Joensuu also organised Start Me Up business idea competitions to find new business ideas. In the material flow studies carried out in the project, geopolymers were identified as one potential development area, and the project was involved in the preparation of the introduction of traffic biogas in the region, which happened in 2022.

Pielinen Karelia Development Centre (PIKES) developed local industrial symbioses that utilise side streams in Nurmes. The trials are related to the forest industry’s side streams, construction and demolition waste, the metal industry and minimising food waste, and they highlighted many challenges in the development of circular economy business in sparsely populated areas. The obstacles related to the limited and varying nature, long transportation distances and low demand of the utilised side streams could be overcome through targeted support measures or cooperation with larger national circular economy actors.

In Pori, Prizztech Ltd developed the Peittoo Recycling Park for processing, storing and utilising different material flows and demonstrated that the shared recycling park brings a lot of synergy benefits to companies. The focus was particularly on the recycling of scrap magnets, by-products from the foundry industry and fly and bottom ash from the energy industry. In addition, new innovations in the utilisation of animal-based waste fat as a material in biofuels were sought with a challenge competition.

Read more: ► circwaste.fi > Circwaste > Subprojects by area > North Karelia > Joensuu’s urban environment as a development platform for the circular economy > Biogas and new products from industrial and agricultural side streams

The Circwaste project produced several solutions for reducing the use of natural resources and increasing sustainable business

Business idea competitions provided 50 new business ideas related to the circular economy

Three circular economy demonstrations were carried out

Business Joensuu sparred with around 100 companies in North Karelia

29 local companies and business networks participated in the project

135 organisations participated in the project 3 new development projects were created

The feasibility of 4 new development areas was analysed

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

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Conserving natural resources with sustainable business

Recycled magnets support self-sufficiency and security of supply

New generation of waste management processes still requires testing

There is a great need for magnets in Europe, but the market for the virgin raw material is almost fully dominated by China. Recycling of magnets is still in its early stages. In the project, Prizztech Ltd demonstrated the production of recycled magnets from powder and proved that magnets made of recycled raw material are equivalent to virgin ones with regard to their properties. The recycling of magnets from large industrial engines and generators, such as wind turbines, is most profitable.

The treatment processes of municipal waste have remained fairly unchanged over the past few decades, and more significant advances are still making us wait.

At best, the magnetic properties of recycled magnets reached 98% of the level of virgin magnets

Read more: ► circwaste.fi > Circwaste > Subprojects by area > Southwest Finland > Peittoo Recycling Park – a test environment for productizing industrial side streams

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CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

A study by the Finnish Environment Institute showed that new types of waste management processes are being studied in industry, especially on a pilot scale. Technologies are being developed for breaking polymer chains into molecules (monomerisation) in plastics, for separating phosphorus and nitrogen in biodegradable waste and sludge, for separating lithium in batteries, for separating methanol, nitrogen and/or ammonium in mixed municipal waste and for separating fibres in textiles, cardboard and agricultural waste.

The development of processes based on the monomerisation of plastic, especially PET plastic, is furthest along in the world and in Finland as well. The introduction of new technologies still requires investments in industrial-scale pilots to test functionality in Finnish conditions.

Conserving natural resources with sustainable business

Workshop concept for industrial symbioses was developed to help launch new regional business In industrial symbiosis, companies can utilise each other’s side streams and processes while producing added value and potentially new competitive products and services.

Industrial symbioses can be used to increase the efficiency of material flows and energy consumption.

To assist regional business coordinators in promoting the use of recycled raw materials, the workbook Teollisen symbioosin työpajan järjestäjän ohjeet (Instructions for the Organiser of an Industrial Symbiosis Workshop) has been prepared. The publication made by Turku University of Applied Sciences is a step-by-step guide for organising an industrial symbiosis workshop, from invitations to organising the workshop and to the follow-up process.

A workshop concept for industrial symbiosis services (FISS) was produced for regional business coordinators in cooperation with Motiva. The two-part workshop familiarises companies with the benefits of industrial symbioses and the use of Materiaalitori.fi. Potential parties to symbioses will be invited to the second workshop, and the beginning of cooperation will be facilitated.

Two instructions promoting industrial symbioses were prepared

Read more (in Finnish): ► www.theseus.fi > Kokoelmat / Turun ammattikorkeakoulu > Julkaisut > Teollisen symbioosin työpajan järjestäjän ohjeet -työkirja ► Materiaalitori.fi

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

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Conserving natural resources with sustainable business

Effective at-source sorting is a requirement for the circular economy of construction and agriculture plastic films According to a study by Karelia University of Applied Sciences, agriculture in North Karelia produces around 300 tonnes of low-density polyethylene plastic film waste (PE-LLD) per year, while the construction sector generates around 250–400 tonnes. By combining these two waste streams, greater potential to recover regional plastic waste material can be achieved.

Effective at-source sorting was found to be a requirement for achieving a sufficient quality level for further processing.

Plastics used in agriculture are of high polymeric quality, but they do not meet the quality requirements when mixed together, and a lack of washing further reduces the quality. More efficient at-source sorting requires motivated farmers who are committed to the process. This can be difficult to achieve without economic changes to the current collection system.

From an economic point of view, one option for increasing the circulation of agricultural waste plastic is to transform the collection system into a producer responsibility model.

This would mean that the fees for recycling are included in the price of the plastic purchased, and transportation or pick up from the farm would be free of charge. Another way of curbing costs would be to collect agricultural plastics from farms less frequently and in larger batches.

Attention should be paid not only to the processing costs, but also to the service life of products produced from secondary raw materials. At the moment, a large number of disposable products are manufactured with low service life and thus low added value, as in practice these products are disposed of after their second use and then used for energy production.

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CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

Studying the composition of construction waste in City of Joensuu in 2017.Photo: Karelia University of Applied Sciences

PE-LLD pellets from the plastic waste processing experiment in 2021. Photo: Karelia University of Applied Sciences

Read more: ► circwaste.fi > Circwaste > Subprojects by area > North Karelia > Turning plastic waste from agriculture and construction into new products

Conserving natural resources with sustainable business

Hard-to-recycle plastic waste is suitable for composite More markets are needed for recycled plastics. In the project, a pilot plant was built in Lappeenranta to demonstrate the technology developed at LUT University, which enables recycling of waste materials into products as locally as possible. The demonstration was so successful that Wimao continued the piloting on an industrial scale in another project in Riihimäki.

LUT: Composite material made of wood and plastic waste was able to reduce the climate change impact by

1,900 kg CO -eq/t 2

per one tonne of construction and demolition waste when the composite replaced plastic and by

2,200 kg

CO2-eq/t when replacing aluminium

Wimao uses hard-to-recycle construction and demolition waste as a raw material for composite products. The pilot has led to full-scale industrial production.

LUT University’s research helped to ensure the materials’ suitability, such as adequate durability and adaptability, for their intended use.

The climate impacts of a composite pallet were

65% less

than of a wooden pallet and

85% less

Read more: ► circwaste.fi > Circwaste > Subprojects by area > South Karelia > New composite products from plastics and fiber waste ► issuu.com/suomenymparistokeskus > Stacks > Syken hankkeiden julkaisuja > CircBrief: Towards a sustainable circular economy for plastics

than of a plastic pallet when calculated with 1,000 transports

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

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Regular measuring and monitoring are an essential part of reducing food waste

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CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

Halving food waste and efficient biocycles

Halving food waste and achieving the biodegradable waste recycling rate of 65% by 2027 is an objective of the National Waste Plan. The European Commission also aims to halve food waste by 2030 at the EU level. The National Waste Plan also aims to increase the use of recycled fertilisers.

The project has produced biocycle solutions from primary production to the use of products and waste management.

Biowaste in municipal solid waste: Recycling rate* and target level for 2027

With the help of circular economy solutions, significant emission savings can be achieved in all areas of the food system, from primary production to final disposal

70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Target 2027

*Recycled biowaste in relation to produced biowaste Source: Statistics Finland, Ministry of the Environment, Finnish Environment Institute. © Finnish Environment Institute.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

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Halving food waste and efficient biocycles

Feed products from food industry side streams

Tips for halving food waste as a national road map

The Natural Resources Institute Finland has examined ways in which companies processing vegetables and root vegetables could make the most of food raw materials. In addition to the waste hierarchy, the chemical composition and microbiological quality define the possibilities for further use. Further use potential has been investigated particularly in food and feed applications. Microbiologically good-quality side stream fractions can be used to produce canned products by fermentation with acidifying agents or, for example, to manufacture ingredients out of carrots or beets for processed compound foods, such as vegetable patties. Potato side streams are suitable for milk production as silage.

Serving waste (9%) and plate waste (5%) are the most common source of food waste in restaurants and food services. The Natural Resources Institute Finland produced new information on the possibilities and best practices of reducing food waste in restaurants and food services.

According to the results, regular measuring and monitoring are an essential part of reducing food waste. The best practices for reducing food waste in restaurants and food services and other sectors have been compiled in the National Food Waste Road Map. The Food Waste Road Map website contains the best practices for reducing food waste from the sector’s actors’ solutions and projects by chain stages. The development of the road map continues, and good solutions and projects can be reported to the website.

Amount of food waste by production chain* tonnes/year 700,000 600,000 500,000 400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000

Primary production Retail and wholesale trade Catering services Food industry Households

0

2019 2020 * Amount does not include crop remaining in the field.

Source: Natural Resources Institute. © Finnish Environment Institute.

Significant part of food waste is generated in households.

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CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

To reduce food waste, the Natural Resources Institute Finland has Serving also carried out data collection waste accounts and reporting on the volumes, challenges and opportunities for of food redistribution and preof restaurants pared a communication guide and food services’ for food aid actors. In the chain food waste of many actors, well-functioning communication is an essential factor facilitating cooperation.

9%

Read more: ► issuu.com/suomenymparistokeskus > Stacks > Syken hankkeiden julkaisuja > CircBrief: Reducing food waste in food services 9/2022 ► circwaste.fi > Circwaste > Subprojects by area > Southwest Finland > Smart redistribution of food ► www.ruokahavikkitiekartta.fi (in Finnish)

Halving food waste and efficient biocycles

Biogas production volumes are increasing, recovery rate has increased Biodegradable waste can be used to produce biogas through an anaerobic digestion process. It can also be produced from waste water sludge, landfill gases, manure and industrial side streams, among other things. Biogas is a key part of the circular economy: its production recovers material that otherwise becomes waste, it can replace the use of fossil fuels and it produces, as a by-product, nutrient-rich sludge that can be used as a fertiliser. Biogas is mainly used in the production of electricity and heat.

The production and recovery of biogas has been examined as part of the Circwaste project in Statistics Finland’s circular economy business indicators. The production of biogas increased from 2010 to 2017, after which the volume started declining and increased again in 2021 when 905 GWh of biogas was produced.

All produced biogas is not used, and surplus biogas has to be burned as a backup solution. Approximately 85% of biogas was used annually for a long time, but the utilisation rate increased to 90% in 2021.

Generation of biogas, utilization of biogas, and flaring of unutilized biogas in 2010–2021 GWh 1,200

Biogas utilisation rate in Finland in 2021:

90%

1,000 800 600 400 200 0

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Utilization of biogas (GWh)

2019

2020

2021

Flare stack (GWh)

Source: Statistics Finland. © Finnish Environment Institute.

Read more: ► stat.fi/index_en > Products and services > Circular economy > Indicators for the circular economy business

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

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Halving food waste and efficient biocycles

Regionally produced biogas is an economy, emission and security of supply matter During the Regional Council of Central Finland’s sub-project, a waste volume study and three mixed waste composition studies were carried out. In the studies, biodegradable waste proved to be the second largest waste fraction after plastic. In Central Finland, the production and use of biogas have been promoted in a goal-oriented manner for 20 years, and one of Finland’s most important biogas ecosystems outside the natural gas network is located in the region. Determined efforts have also been made to develop the transport biomethane market in, for example, bus procurement and waste transport and with the help of communications.

Turku University of Applied Sciences’ sub-project encouraged farmers in the region to establish new farmsized biogas plants. At the beginning of the project, 10 potential farmers and one industrial actor were contacted for cooperation. Five of the sites ended up in closer cooperation in which specialists from Turku University of Applied Sciences helped assess the suitability of different solutions and tested gas productivity. Four development cases were involved, which are also likely to be implemented. Interest in biogas increased steadily during the project.

In its project, the Natural Resources Institute Finland promoted the production of biogas from manure and other organic by-products and improved recycling in the food system. Gravitational settlement of pig slurry was demonstrated, and it was found to double the biogas potential of slurry and to increase the recycling of nutrients by increasing the phosphorus content of bottom sediment

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CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

while nitrogen remains in the surface liquid. The sub-project prepared guidelines on the use of recycled fertilisers in precision farming. The sub-project also added features to the Biomass Atlas and calculated the potential locations of biogas plants using the bottom sediment of pig slurry in Southwest Finland (pig slurry concentrations).

Biodegradable waste volume in Central Finland’s mixed waste composition studies in 2023:

Number of supported farm-sized biogas plants:

5

21%

Read more: ► issuu.com/suomenymparistokeskus > Stacks > Syken hankkeiden julkaisuja > CircBrief: Nutrient recycling is an essential part of a sustainable food system ► issuu.com/suomenymparistokeskus > Stacks > Syken hankkeiden julkaisuja > CircBrief: Sustainable energy production from biogas

Halving food waste and efficient biocycles

Efficiency to grocery shop supply chains with a digital cloud service The Golli service is a service specifically created for grocery trade suppliers with which they can manage the processing of orders and the management of deliveries completely electronically.

Golli, developed by GS1 Finland, facilitates interaction between suppliers and grocery shops and brings resource efficiency to supply chains. The service is already used by more than 400 suppliers. The clients include large retail chains, such as S Group/Inex Partners, Kesko/Kespro, Wihuri Metro-tukku, Meira Nova and Valio Aimo.

In the Circwaste project pilot, GS1 implemented a feature to the Golli service that can be used to monitor the circulation of reusable pallets. One rented and recycled pallet replaces up to one hundred disposable ones. The tags on the pallets can be used to trace the pallets and connect the product on the pallet to the pallet. The data collected from the monitoring of pallets can be used to optimise the circulation of pallets and transports.

One

rented and recycled pallet

replaces 100 disposable ones

Number of users of the digital Golli service:

>400

Read more: ► circwaste.fi > Circwaste > Subprojects by area > Southwest Finland > Streamlining commercial supply chains with digital cloud services

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

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For a sustainable future, it is important to make smart material choices, utilise the generated side streams and invest in new innovations

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CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

There is huge potential for recovery in the recycling of construction materials Construction uses huge amounts of natural resources.

According to the European Commission’s estimate, new construction and the maintenance of buildings and infrastructure consume about 50% of all material put into service, and the construction sector produces more than 35% of all waste in the EU. One of the National Waste Plan’s objectives is to reduce the amount of waste generated in construction, improve sorting, increase the recovery of construction and demolition waste as material to 70%, increase the use of recycled materials in infrastructure construction, increase reuse and identify fractions containing harmful substances.

Waste generation by industry in Construcion Amount of waste, 1,000 tons/year 18,000

Material recovery of construction and demolition waste, % 80% 70%

16,000

60%

14,000

50%

12,000

40%

10,000

30%

8,000

20%

6,000

10%

4,000

0%

2,000 0

The Circwaste project has promoted the circular economy of construction in North Karelia and in Southwest Finland in the test structures implemented by the City of Pori, Kiertomaa and Ramboll

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Non-hazardous waste Hazarduous waste

2015* 2016* 2017** 2018** 2019** 2020** 2021**

* Material recovery includes preparation for reuse. ** Preparation for reuse, material recovery, backfilling and other material recovery total.

Source: Statistics Finland. © Finnish Environment Institute.

Source: Statistics Finland. © Finnish Environment Institute.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

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Possibilities for recycling construction materials

At-source sorting of construction waste can be done successfully, but requires incentives, the client’s requirements and guidance

42

The waste management company Puhas Ltd improved the sorting and recycling of construction and demolition waste on nine different construction sites in its owner municipalities Joensuu, Ilomantsi, Kontiolahti, Liperi and Polvijärvi. On these sites, 99% of waste can be successfully sorted. Based on these site experiences, it was ensured that waste can be sorted very well in the construction sector. A requirement for this is that the site’s client requires it and that the employees are continuously

educated about it. The alternative is to encourage sorting with the pricing of waste reception. Sorting can also be facilitated by means of, for example, waste counselling, waste-type-specific signs, various collection equipment and cooperation. To facilitate sorting, the sub-project prepared the guide Rakentajan lajitteluopas (Constructor’s Sorting Guide) and a guide for improving the at-source sorting of construction waste.

The atmospheric old red-brick facade of the old locomotive stables that houses a construction material “bank” called Varaosapankki in the City of Pori, Finland. Photo: Laura Lehto.

Read more:

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

► circwaste.fi > > Circwaste > Subprojects by area > North Karelia > Efficiency for the recycling of construction and demolition waste ► puhas.fi > Lajittelu ja neuvonta > Lajitteluoppaat > Rakentajan lajitteluopas (in Finnish)

Possibilities for recycling construction materials

Reuse and correct material choices for construction The City of Pori’s resource-wise construction sub-project has built networks, carried out numerous demonstrations and pilots, organised training courses and seminars and produced guides and other materials, such as the awarded bachelor’s thesis Carbon Footprint and Construction Waste of a Detached House and the master’s thesis Material Evaluation for a Multifunctional School Building from the Circular Economy Perspective.

is an information package for buyers, renovators and developers that promotes taking energy efficiency into account in detached housing.

As an example of ways to promote reuse in construction in Pori, the activities of the construction material spare parts bank Varaosapankki were improved and marketed. Varaosapankki receives and sells various old building elements and is an example of a grass-roots level circular economy in construction.

Material recovery rate

In the demolition pilots in the area, the principles of the circular economy were utilised and, for example, concrete was used as filling material in earthworks.

> 90%

in demolition pilots in the area

In Pori, a model that steers the constructor’s material choices towards more sustainable construction from the perspective of the climate and circular economy was created. A detached housing energy guide was prepared for the residents, which

Read more: ► Material evaluation for a multifunctional school building from the circular economy perspective ► pori-fi > Kaupunki ja hallinto > Hankkeet ja verkostot > Hankkeet > CIRCWASTE – kohti kiertotaloutta > Osahanke Rakentamisen kiertotalous (in Finnish) ► theseus.fi > Ammattikorkeakoulut > Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu > Opinnäytetyöt (Avoin kokoelma) > Pientalon hiilijalanjälki ja rakennusjäte (in Finnish) ► Kiertotalouden ja ilmaston huomioiminen rakentamisessa (in Finnish) ► Omakotiasujan energiaopas – Tietopaketti talon ostajalle, remontoijalle tai rakennuttajalle (in Finnish)

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

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Possibilities for recycling construction materials

Use of industrial side streams and contaminated sediments will generate significant economic savings and environmental benefits In connection with the filling of Sampaanalanlahti located in an industrial area, Ramboll’s sub-projects have shown that both virgin construction materials and binding agents needed for construction can be replaced by industrial side streams. The work has also produced information and instructions on the properties of materials, the design of structures, the implementation of material logistics and environmental impacts.

The results of the project have been excellent. A 56% reduction in emissions was achieved through mass stabilisation in the filling of the Sampaanala port warehouse area, and the total use of natural aggregates needed for construction was reduced by 70%. Alternative solutions were able to replace more than 50% of the cement needed for mass stabilisation. In the area, 100,000 tonnes of soft soil imported from outside the area was used. Approximately 30,000 tonnes of fly ash were used. In addition, 1,000,000 m3 of the basin’s own mass was utilised in construction without the need to dispose of it elsewhere.

The trial also brought significant economic benefits, as the savings achieved by mass stabilisation amounted to 47% (€1.6 million). The surface structure alternative pilots for the Sampaanalanlahti field were carried out in 2023. The implementation of the field structures with recycled raw materials is planned to continue in the future.

jects. The project has produced a guide and a logistic model for the use of recycled materials in infrastructure construction. The guide encourages the use of recycled materials, as its information can be replicated in future port projects.

70% reduction

in the use of natural aggregates has been achieved in mass stabilisation and superstructure at the pilot site Mass stabilisation has achieved 47% =

€1.6 million of cost savings at the pilot site

More than 10 different mass stabilisation solutions have been piloted in filling Sampaanala. The results of the project both provide useful information and enable efficient preparation of environmental permits also in future proRead more:

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CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

► circwaste.fi > Circwaste > Subprojects by area > Southwest Finland > Safe reuse of contaminated soil

Possibilities for recycling construction materials

Mass coordination brings significant economic and environmental savings The utilisation of surplus and demolition materials between construction projects requires mass coordination, that is, quantitative and qualitative monitoring, steering and forecasting of mass flows. Mass coordination is primarily aimed at allocating surplus masses directly between construction sites, but processing, intermediate storage and final disposal sites are also needed.

Stabilization work in progress in Sampaanalanlahti area near City of Rauma, Finland. Photo: Ramboll Finland Ltd.

At best, coordination brings significant economic and environmental savings. Successful mass coordination requires cooperation between land use, planning, construction and maintenance.

In the Turku region, Kiertomaa Ltd, which is owned

by Lounais-Suomen jätehuolto Ltd (LSJH) and the City of Turku, has been established as the operative actor for mass management. For processing or intermediate storage, Kiertomaa Ltd receives an average of 200,000– 300,000 tonnes of surplus soil, recycled concrete and green waste annually at the Saramäki terminal. For example, surplus soil can be sifted or crushed into suitable-sized grain fractions for different needs.

A finished stabilized field. Photo: Ramboll Finland Ltd.

This saves fuel and virgin material and their procurement costs. The Saramäki storage area also serves as a trial area where new ways to recycle hard-to-utilise soils, such as clay, can be tested.

Volume of mass received

by Saramäki terminal annually 200–300 kt

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

45

Possibilities for recycling construction materials

Circular economy lessons learned from road construction pilots for national use with the help of guides

Economic savings from the use of recycled raw materials

25–40%

Nine concrete road projects piloted various structures made from recycled materials, such as bottom ash from waste incineration, granulated fly ash, crushed concrete and asphalt and old tyres. The pilots implemented by Ramboll also improved environmental permit processes and processing, restoration and stabilisation methods that utilise low-quality soil and old road structures to reduce the use of primary materials.

The pilots were successful, and the tested materials were found to be suitable for material recovery sites. Depending on the pilot site, emission reduction savings of 12–70% were achieved at different sites. Approximately 650,000 m3 of soft soil and 44,000 tonnes of industrial side streams have been recovered. Economic savings have varied between 25% and 47% depending on the site. The project’s pilots have demonstrated design methods and soil processing methods that enable construction without the generation of surplus soil. A number of guides have been produced in the project’s pilots to provide information for future transport infrastructure projects.

In addition, the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency has adopted guidelines produced in the project on the use of recycled materials in transport infrastructure construction.

Utilization of fly ash in the embankments of the Säyrylä municipality interchange (above). The Riihimäki-Hikiä light traffic route is ready. (below). Heaps of treated waste incineration slag (next page).

Photos: Ramboll Finland Ltd.

Read more:

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CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023

► circwaste.fi > Circwaste > Subprojects by area > Southwest Finland > Utilizing industrial waste and soil in road construction

Depending on the pilot, reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by

12–70%

40–70%

of non-renewable natural resources conserved in the piloting of Hiedanranta

44,000 tonnes

of recovered industrial side streams

650,000 m3 of recovered soft land

circwaste.fi @kiertotalouteen

Koordinaattori: Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) Partners: Business Joensuu, Central Finland Health Care District, City of Jyväskylä, City of Lappeenranta, City of Pori, Council of Tampere Region, GS1 Finland Ltd, Karelia University of applied sciences, Kemin Digipolis Ltd, Kiertomaa Ltd, Kompotek Ltd, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT), Natural Resources Institute (Luke), Pielinen K arelia Development Center PIKES Ltd, Puhas Ltd, Ramboll Finland Ltd, Regional Council of Central Finland, Regional Council of North Karelia, Regional Council of Southwest Finland, Turku University of applied sciences, Helsinki Metropolitan Area Reuse Centre Ltd Main funder: EU LIFE IP programme Co-funders: Gasum, Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, Finnish Transport Agency, Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Mustankorkea Ltd, Pirteä Porsas Ltd, Rauman Biovoima Ltd, Sammakkokangas Ltd, Pohjois-Karjalan tulevaisuusrahasto Duration: 2016–2023

CIRCULAR ECONOMY NOW! Solving the problem Layman’s report: Circwaste Finland LIFE IP Main project results 2016–2023 Author: Tuuli Myllymaa, Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) All project partners have contributed to the writing of this Layman’s report.

Editor: Katja Lepistö, Syke Layout: Satu Turtiainen, Syke Cover: stock.adobe.com / AI Photos: stock.adobe.com unless otherwise stated.

Helsinki, Finland 10/2023.

ISBN 978-952-11-5615-1 (online) ISBN 978-952-11-5616-8 (print)

LIFE15 IPE FI 004 Circwaste-project receives financial support from EU for the production of its materials.

The views reflected within the contents are entirely the project’s own and the EU commission is not responsible for any use of them.