Univisio is a Finnish company that manufactures bedding textiles - such as blankets, pillows and sheets. The products are manufactured in Finland and the largest customer base consists of various companies and central stores as well as the public sector. Univisio's products have long used...
Nordic Upstream is an inspiring example of the possibilities brought upon by recycled materials. The Rajala family’s company that used to focus on parquet floor maintenance had to consider new opportunities for their business due to the covid-19 pandemic. An idea came up when the...
Pure Waste is a Finnish company manufacturing yarns, fabric and clothing from 100 % recycled materials. The main raw material consists of cutting waste made of cotton that is refined into recycled fibre in India, at the birthplace of the cutting waste and at a...
Sinituote is a Finnish company specialised in cleaning equipment. 45% of the plastic they use is already made of recycled material. The company’s goal since the beginning has been to make products that last for as long as possible, but once the new CEO Johanna...
Approximately 80 % of environmental impacts of products are determined during the design phase of a product. This is why product design in particular is in a central role in the circular economy transition. Usable materials, life cycle, repairability and recyclability - and in general,...
The EU-level actions have tremendous impact in speeding up the circular economy. Eero Jalava, Specialist at Sitra, views the EU circular economy legislation as a way to make the circular economy mainstream. The European Green Deal, a green growth strategy, acts as an umbrella for...
The EU-level regulations have a significant role in advancing the circular economy of textiles. The EU textile strategy that would, in its part, promote the reduction, recycling and upcycling of textile waste, is expected to be published. This is one part of the EU’s objective...
Nearly 90 000 tonnes of end-of-life textiles are being generated in Finland every year. According to a recent report by Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, 3/4 of end-of-life textiles in 2019 originate from households and the majority, approximately 60 % of all end-of-life textiles are being...
The transition into the circular economy requires new operating models and attitudes from businesses. Sinituote Oy is an excellent example of how internal motivation of a business as well as external enablers can turn a business into a forerunner in the circular economy. The biggest...
The central idea in the circular economy is minimising waste and loss and maintaining the value tied in the materials for as long as possible, for example, with reuse and recycling. A change in attitudes and operating models as well as new kinds of partnerships...
The EU legislation obliges member states to separately collect post-consumer textile waste by 2025. In Finland, the separate collection of textiles is meant to start by 2023. In order to efficiently recycle textiles, materials of recycled textiles must be identified. In the past, the sorting...
The recycling of textiles is a relevant issue. One of the reasons for this is the EU directive that comes into effect on 2025. The directive imposes the separate collection of post-consumer textile waste. In Finland, the separate collection of textiles will begin already in...
The circular economy saves the limited resources of the Earth but it can also be a profitable business. A good example of this is TouchPoint, a workwear company that concentrates on ecological and sustainable workwear. Ecological aspects are an important value also for Hesburger, one...
Almost 100 000 tonnes of textiles are disposed in Finland every year. For now, textiles that are unsuitable for reuse end up in mixed waste to be incinerated. However, this is going to change. Satumaija Levón, the leading expert of sustainability and circular economy at...