Collaborative network for development of Kiviruukki circular economy hub – From concept towards realisation

The first steps towards creating the Kiviruukki collaboration forum were taken on 12 June 2023 in a workshop which brought together various local operators to come up with ideas about activities and collaboration opportunities in the area. The workshop focused on brainstorming over plastic, textile and sustainable food system as well as central themes such as energy. The significance and potential of these themes to create business through innovations and increase competence capital has been recognised. There are already several companies in Espoo who refine food, textile and plastic side streams and waste into new products. Forty people participated in the workshop which  was facilitated by think tank Demos Helsinki.

“Most material flows in Finland begin in Uusimaa. We have exceptionally good circumstances here to create new business around circular economy which supports sustainable development,” says Reetta Jänis, Development Manager at the City of Espoo. 

Key operators in the area gave speeches at the beginning of the workshop. Representatives of the City of Espoo presented the partial master plan and vision for the Kiviruukki area. NCC, VTT and Nordic Bioproducts told about what they do, their wishes related to the Kiviruukki area and particularly what they want in terms of collaboration. Educational collaboration is also planned for the area, particularly with Omnia. The circular economy hub will not only enable collaboration of businesses but also allow the residents of Kiviruukki and nearby areas to participate in research and development in a living lab environment. 

The speeches were followed by brainstorm discussions where participants pondered what kinds of functions could be located in the area, particularly in terms of textile and plastic circular economy as well as food system changes. 

Spaces where people can get together, such as a place to meet, an event venue and a seminar room, came up in the discussions. The idea of starting a regular collaboration forum received lots of support. The participants requested a forum which provides additional information about urban plans and collaboration opportunities. Our goal was to identify solutions that various operators had in common.

• Forming a collaboration forum for operators in the area to facilitate brainstorming, realisation of ideas and building collaborative networks. 
• Importance of sales and marketing, to make the area appealing and have experts, businesses and residents find their way there. This could be done through narratives, for example, and by reserving a large part of a project’s budget for marketing.
• Building a circular economy solution showroom in Kiviruukki. Also, open platform piloting possibility with reasonable operating costs. There could, for example, be a “Mini-Eureka” of circular economy for residents.
• Collaboration with educational institutes, to gain new circular economy experts in various fields, such as the textile industry which was recognised as being important. More experts are wanted and the area could serve as a place that provides interesting internships and jobs for students.
• Shared logistics and storage services to enable local companies to make use of shared storage and logistics systems and, for example, make them as environmentally and cost-effective as possible. 

The results of the workshop will be utilised in the development of the Kiviruukki area in the future. The importance of taking the principles of circular economy into account in the design and construction of the area was also discussed at the end of the workshop. “Kiviruukki is an incredible area. We are creating a growing circular economy hub together in Kiviruukki. Kiviruukki, which has been built with the principles of circular economy in mind, right from the start, piqued interest both nationally and globally as an exemplary area,” says Demos Helsinki Senior Expert Satu Lähteenoja .  

The first part of the Cleantech Garden expertise cluster and business park is estimated to be completed in late 2025. You can find more information about Kiviruukki land use development, for example, on the City of Espoo website (Kiviruukki district plan | City of Espoo).

For more information on the Kiviruukki collaboration forum, contact Reetta Jänis, Development Manager at the City of Espoo: reetta.janis@espoo.fi. 

Written by Elli Jaakola, Demos Helsinki and Riikka Koskenranta, City of Espoo