Abstract
In recent discussions and policies, circular economy (CE) has been perceived as a promising way to solve environmental problems caused by our current economic system. To become reality CE calls for extensive, systemic changes in the design and production of goods, in consumption patterns, and in the ways in which companies create value. Though the transition characteristics of circular economy are self-evident, thus far few researchers have analysed it from transition theory perspectives. Transition approach could greatly enhance our understanding of processes aiming to achieve CE, including barriers and incentives that might affect them. Finland has often been seen as a forerunner in the change towards CE. We organised four workshops to explore how Finland could promote the change towards CE. In this chapter, we describe and analyse outcomes of the workshops focusing on the looked-for characteristics of a CE transition process in Finland. The findings point to a direction of a purposive transition with coordinated action, shared use of resources and shared creation of knowledge.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N.M.P., Hultink, E.J.: The circular economy: a new sustainability paradigm? J. Clean. Prod. 143, 757–768 (2017)
Murray, A., Skene, K., Haynes, K.: The circular economy: an interdisciplinary exploration of the concept & application in global context. J. Bus. Ethics 140, 369–380 (2017)
Lieder, M., Rashid, A.: Towards circular economy implementation: a comprehensive review in context of manufacturing industry. J. Clean. Prod. 115, 36–51 (2016)
Ghisellini, P., Cialani, C., Ulgiati, S.: A review on circular economy: the expected transition to a balanced interplay of environmental & economic systems. J. Clean. Prod. 114, 11–32 (2016)
European Commission: Circular Economy Closing the Loop, EU action plan http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52015DC0614 (2015)
European Commission: A European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy http://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-economy/pdf/plastics-strategy.pdf (2018)
European Commission: Report on Critical Raw Materials & the Circular Economy. https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/publication/eur-scientific-&-technical-research-reports/critical-raw-materials-&-circular-economy-background-report (2018)
The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra: Leading the Cycle Finnish—Road Map to a Circular Economy 2016–2025, 2016 Sitra Studies 121 (2016)
Anttonen, M., Lammi, M., Bamford, I., Antikainen, M., Naumanen, M.: Suomesta toimiva kiertotalousmaa
Millaista murrosprosessia pidetään tavoiteltavana? Futura 1. (in press) (2019)
Berkhout, F., Smith, A., Striling, A.: Socio-technical regimes and transition contexts. SPRU Electronic Working Paper June 2003. SPRU—Science & Technology Policy Research at University of Sussex (2003)
Smith, A., Stirling, A., Berkhout, F.: The governance of sustainable socio-technical transitions. Res. Policy 34(10), 1491–1510 (2005)
Jedelhauser, M., Binder, C.R.: The spatial impact of socio-technical transitions—The case of phosphorus recycling as a pilot of the circular economy. J. Clean. Prod. 197, 856–869 (2018)
Jedelhauser, M., Mehr, J., Binder, C.R.: Transition of the Swiss Phosphorus system towards a circular economy—Part 2: Socio-technical scenarios. Sustainability 10(6), 1980 (2018)
Iacovidou, E., Millward-Hopkins, J., Busch, J., Purnell, P., Velis, C.A., Hahladakis, J.N., Zwirner, O., Brown, A.: A pathway to circular economy: developing a conceptual framework for complex value assessment of resources recovered from waste. J. Clean. Prod. 168, 1279–1288 (2017)
Jurgilevich, A., Birge, T., Kentala-Lehtonen, J., Korhonen-Kurki, K., Pietikäinen, J., Saikku, L., Schösler, H.: Transition towards circular economy in the food system. Sustainability 8(1), 1–14 (2016)
Evans, S., Fernando, L., Yang, M.: Sustainable value creation—from concept towards implementation. In: Stark R., Seliger G., Bonvoisin J. (eds.) Sustainable Manufacturing. Sustainable Production, Life Cycle Engineering & Management, pp. 203–220. Springer, Cham (2017)
Yang, M., Evans, S., Vladimirova, D., Rana, P.: Value uncaptured perspective for sustainable business model innovation. J. Clean. Prod. 140, 1794–1804 (2017)
Bocken, N.M.P., de Pauw, I., Bakker, C., van der Grinten, B.: Product design & business model strategies for a circular economy. J. Ind. Prod. Eng. 33, 308–320 (2016)
Bocken, N.M.P., Short, S.W., Rana, P., Evans, S.: A literature & practice review to develop sustainable business model archetypes. J. Clean. Prod. 65, 42–56 (2014)
Pagoropoulos, A., Pigossoa, D.C.A., McAloone, T.C.: The emergent role of digital technologies in the circular economy: a review. Procedia CIRP 64, 19–24 (2017)
Geels, W.F.: From sectoral systems of innovation to socio-technical systems. Insights about dynamics & change from sociology & institutional theory. Res. Policy 33, 897–920 (2004)
Loorbach, D., Rotmans, J.: The practice of transition management: examples & lessons from four distinct cases. Futures 42, 237–246 (2010)
Jacobsson, S., Johnson, A.: The diffusion of renewable energy technology: an analytical framework and key issues for research. Energy Policy 28, 625–640 (2001)
Anttonen, M., Lammi, M., Mykkänen, J., Repo, P.: Circular economy in the triple helix of innovation systems. Sustainability 10(8), 2646 (2018)
Rotmans, J., Loorbach, D.: Complexity & transition management. J. Ind. Ecol. 13, 184–196 (2009)
Repo, P., Anttonen, M., Mykkänen, J., Lammi, M.: Lack of congruence between European citizen perspective & policies on circular economy. Eur. J. Sustain. Dev. 7, 249–264 (2018)
Hobson, K., Lynch, N.: Diversifying & de-growing the circular economy: radical social transformation in a resource-scarce world. Futures 82, 15–25 (2016)
Anttonen, M., Halme, M., Houtbeckers, E., Nurkka, J.: The other side of sustainable innovation: is there a demand for innovative services? J. Clean. Prod. 45, 89–103 (2013)
Ritzén, S., Sandström, G.Ö.: Barriers to the circular economy—intergration of perspectives & domains. Procedia CIRP 64, 7–12 (2017)
Lähdemäki, J.: Ekologinen kestävyys, hyvinvointi ja koulutus—Miksi ja miten koulutuksen on muututtava. Futura 1(2016), 90–91 (2016)
Acknowledgements
This paper was prepared with support from the Strategic Research Council at the Academy of Finland granted to the project Closing the Loop for High-added-value Materials (Gas 303452 and 303455). We also wish to thank all the persons who participated in the workshops for their active work and contribution.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this paper
Cite this paper
Lammi, M., Anttonen, M., Bamford, I., Antikainen, M., Naumanen, M. (2019). Turning Finland into a Country of Circular Economy: What Kind of a Process of Change Should We Seek?. In: Ball, P., Huaccho Huatuco, L., Howlett, R., Setchi, R. (eds) Sustainable Design and Manufacturing 2019. KES-SDM 2019. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, vol 155. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9271-9_20
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9271-9_20
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-13-9270-2
Online ISBN: 978-981-13-9271-9
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)