World Circular Economy Forum 2019 kicks off in Finland today

• Third annual event draws over 2,000 key circular economy experts from around the world
• Finland a frontrunner in field of circular economy, first in the world to release a national roadmap, aims to be a global circular economy leader by 2025

By Charumini de Silva in Helsinki

The World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2019 will kick off in Helsinki, Finland today to showcase recent progress, new opportunities and solutions for countries and organisations to learn and adapt.

Hosted by Sitra – the Finnish Innovation Fund, the three-day forum will bring together over 2,000 key circular economy thinkers and doers from around the world and international media including the Daily FT. This year the forum will have a strong emphasis on the next era of the circular economy and scaling up the transition.  

Finland is a frontrunner in the field of circular economy as the country’s solution for a sustainable society with innovative solutions coming from extensive collaboration among public and private sectors.

Finland was the first country in the world to release a national circular economy roadmap, outlining the way to sustainable wellbeing and a successful carbon-neutral future. Finland has also set a goal to be a global circular economy leader by 2025. 

The WCEF 2019 will focus on a range of issues including Acceleration of circular businesses and Investing in circular economy businesses; The circular economy in cities; Governance and circular economy roadmaps; Plastics and a circular bioeconomy; The circular economy in construction; Measuring circularity and the fair use of data; Education for the circular economy; The circular economy for water; The carbon-neutral industry in the circular economy and Circularity in our day-to-day lives.

The first World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) was held in Helsinki in 2017. The ground breaking event not only presented the world’s best circular economy solutions, but has also become an annual summit for the global circular economy community. In 2018 it was held in Yokohama, Japan.

For Finland, circular bioeconomy is a tool for achieving sustainable development, combatting climate change, saving natural resources, and improving the state of the environment. All while generating economic growth and jobs. According to estimates, the circular economy may contribute an annual added value of at least three billion euros to the Finnish economy by 2030. 

WCEF host Sitra has played a key role in establishing the circular economy concept in Finnish society. In the public sector, many municipalities have taken voluntary, active steps towards a more sustainable future. One example is the Smart & Clean Helsinki Metropolitan. And in the education sector, thousands of Finnish school and university students are learning about applying circular economy principles.

A developed nation of 5.5 million people is well suited to trying out new innovations – different partners are often in close proximity. Finland is now carrying out practical circular economy experiments that are providing benefits across all sectors of business and society. 

Combining Finnish success in education and strong competences in digital solutions, Finland aims at offering unique solutions globally. Already a large number of world-class Finnish enterprises has adopted circular economy approaches in their business. Finland excels in various solutions, from waste management and sustainable future food to new material development.

For instance, Finnish firms have been rapidly-developing new innovative biomaterials derived from wood. Also in Finland’s pulp and paper industry, almost all the materials and side streams are being recycled and utilised in producing new products or to generate renewable energy.