‘Sustainable Growth with Partners’ seminars brought together more than 120 participants from 70 organisations

In 17 February–3 March 2023, we organised four thematic breakfast seminars for Espoo’s sustainable development partners and stakeholders. The participants, representing businesses, research establishments, educational institutions, associations and various city units, numbered more than 120. In addition to many highly inspiring presentations, lively discussion and forging new connections between partners were among the best aspects of the seminars.

For our partners, we organised four breakfast seminars as part of the ‘Solution path to sustainable growth ecosystems’ (RAKKE) project. The first event was organised under the theme of sustainable neighbourhoods, and we delved deeper into the construction material circular economy. The subsequent events were themed as follows: renewable energy and energy efficiency, low-emission transport, and the materials circular economy. For transport, fossil free technologies and, in particular, the electric-car charging infrastructure and services played a primary role. At the materials circular economy event, we concentrated on the circulation of plastic.

“On many occasions, partners have expressed a wish for a cooperation meeting that would bring together operators of their respective sectors and, in recent years, the number of face-to-face meeting has been limited. Based on this feedback, we did exceedingly well with our goal to bring operators together to network and to discuss topical issues,” says Development Manager Tiia Tuuri from the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development.

Espoo’s goal is to be carbon neutral by 2030. This target can be achieved together with our partners. As a pioneer, Espoo not only strives for a reduced carbon footprint but also to promote local operators’ sustainable business and solutions that increase Espoo’s handprint globally. Together with partners, we develop solutions for cutting emissions and for increasing positive handprint effects in our world.

All event participants infuse the development cooperation with their own valuable competence. The common will to foster a more sustainable future was tangible at the events. In their presentations, the participating businesses, Remeo, nolla_E, Lähitaksi and Finnish Plastics Recycling Ltd, voiced their views about sustainable business and the significance of cooperation.

The City of Espoo has joined the European Commission Mission for 100 Climate-neutral and smart cities. This provides the entire Espoo community with a range of opportunities to promote carbon-neutrality, create sustainable growth and accelerate the shift towards the green and digital transitions. We invite partners to join this cooperation and the Climate City Contract, which sets out the action taken by the Espoo community to achieve carbon neutrality.

“Under the RAKKE project, we have described solution paths for Espoo to achieve sustainable growth and the green transition together with the 100 best partners in various ecosystems. The efforts to promote sustainable growth will be continued under the EU Mission together with the Espoo community during the ongoing decade,” says Project Manager Reetta Jänis.

The impact analysis evaluated the impact of the business ecosystems of the construction circular economy, renewable energy, electric-car charging infrastructure and services, and the circulation of plastic. This evaluation focused on businesses that engage in cooperation with Espoo in terms of the above themes, as well as on how, examined from various sustainability perspectives, their products and services impact on the surrounding world.

“Traditional ESG evaluations seek to answer the question ‘how’, whereas the analysis carried out by Upright Oy provides an answer to the question ‘what’. The focus is expressly on the impacts that products and services exert. The analysis seeks to take account of the impacts of the entire value chain, both in the supply chains and as seen from the end user’s perspective. What is essential here is the overall picture of the good that can be achieved with the resources employed,” says Erika Noponen from Upright Oy.

The impact analysis covers nearly 80 businesses, approximately 20 for each theme. The results indicate clearly how economic activities that stress the circular economy, renewable energy and the promotion of electric cars positively influence our society, the creation of new knowledge, people’s health and the carbon handprint. It is businesses who build the city’s infrastructure and homes for local residents. Emission-free mobility services make it possible for city residents to live a smooth everyday life and to meet friends. Plastic is used in the food sector and in healthcare to improve safety. The handprint encompasses more than just emission-reducing solutions – the issue can also be considered in broader terms from various sustainability perspectives.

“For us, it is key to increase understanding of the impacts that businesses and our development cooperation have not only on the ecological footprint but also on economic and social sustainability. The model developed by Upright provides a good foundation to examine this. In the course of the analysis process, we gained lots of new insights into how to develop our own work,” says Tiia Tuuri. The analysis is now complete, and we can start a closer examination of the material.

Sustainable growth cannot be achieved alone. Cooperation between various operators in ecosystems is the key to tackle lamentable challenges. It is essential to understand where we are now and what solutions have been achieved with the existing partners. What is at least equally important as this is to understand the solution path to a sustainable future. It is these issues that we crystallised in the RAKKE project together with Gaia Consulting.

“The solutions devised together, openness and trust are the key issues here,” replies Tommi Lampikoski from Gaia Consulting, responding to the question what is the most important lesson that businesses should take home with them from the event.

The partner cooperation can multiply the impact of Espoo’s handprint, as fittingly noted by one of the event participants during discussion. The events enforced the feeling that no-one is alone with their carbon-neutrality goal or with their efforts to develop the circular economy. Everyone shares the same motivation. Sustainable economic activities create in the value chain more sustainable growth, which magnifies. It is vital that the development cooperation involve a broad range of different operators, who work together to create new innovative solutions and, consequently, new business and economic growth.

We invite all businesses, research establishments, educational institutions, associations and city residents to join in to develop solutions together with the city and to increase the handprint of the Espoo community.

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The ‘Sustainable Growth with Partners’ events were organised by the City of Espoo Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development. The seminar series was part of the ‘Solution path to sustainable growth ecosystems’ (RAKKE) project, funded by the Uusimaa Sustainable Growth and Vitality Support (UKKE) funding. The RAKKE project strengthens cooperation, innovation and economic activities between the public and the private sector in the development packages of low-carbon transport, energy, the circular economy, and clean and smart urban solutions. The aim of the project, to be concluded in March 2023, has been to build effective ecosystems together with 100 companies and developers, as well as to lay the foundations for more effective project and development activities. The project results will ensure that Espoo and Uusimaa are at the forefront of achieving the UN Agenda 2030 and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, carbon neutrality and economic recovery.