The Sitras Megatrends 2023 report identifies key directions for the coming years, with the central theme being the deteriorating carrying capacity of nature, which directly impacts other megatrends.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the multifaceted consequences of Russia’s aggression have starkly highlighted the interdependent nature of our world, where no change occurs in isolation from others (Dufva & Rekola, 2023).

This is a complex challenge. As the world’s well-being declines, thoughts turn to the well-being of nature, even for the smallest creatures like willow tits, arctic foxes, and bees. Maslow’s pyramid serves as a testament to this. Environmental concerns often take a back seat when people struggle to afford food, fuel, or even electricity.

Fortunately, in recent years, there has been an increasing understanding of the economic value of nature and the environment. A report released by the World Economic Forum in January 2020 revealed that up to half of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) depends on the ecosystem services provided by nature (WEF, 2020).

Focus shifts from individuals to institutions

According to Sitra’s Mikko Dufva and Sanna Rekola, humanity is currently experiencing an ecological sustainability crisis, where human activities exceed the boundaries of both living and non-living nature, thereby jeopardizing our economy and well-being. To address this, they propose ecological reconstruction, which involves transitioning towards a society that prioritizes the well-being of nature.

The responsibility for consumption and its sustainability has long been placed on individual consumers, but gradually, attention is turning toward institutions and decision-makers. Effecting change requires exceptional courage from policymakers, along with top-down systemic transformations, in which the European Union (EU) has emerged as a global advocate for change.

Over the past few years, increasingly ambitious decisions have been made, such as the EU’s Green Deal program, biodiversity strategy, updated circular economy action plan, and 2030 climate targets. These initiatives all aim to promote sustainable utilization of natural resources and social justice.

In March 2022, the European Commission even proposed updating the EcoDesign Directive, outlining the integration of digital product passports, known as circular economy passports. These passports would provide enhanced transparency throughout the product lifecycle, capturing vital information for products entering the market (Nykter & Ikonen, 2022).

The transition to a circular economy necessitates expertise

In Finland, awareness of the circular economy is slowly growing. As cliché as it may sound, future professionals in this domain are being shaped today. However, there is a sense of urgency to ensure that ongoing reforms do not catch us off guard. Fortunately, various educational opportunities exist, but specific degree programs focusing on the circular economy are currently lacking.

Several ambitious circular economy projects are already underway, striving to meet the growing demand for circular economy expertise within businesses. One notable initiative is the Climate and Circular Economy Factory (CCEF), coordinated by Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in collaboration with Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences and Yrkeshögskolan Novia. Through this collaboration, a national circular economy competence center is being established.

The competence center will provide companies with centralized access to circular economy-related educational offerings from universities, opportunities for student collaboration, practical tools, and the guidance of circular economy professionals to develop their own processes and business models. The circular economy competence center is set to commence operations in June 2023.

References

Dufva, M. & Rekola, S. 2023. Megatrendit 2023. Ymmärrystä yllätysten aikaan. Sitran selvityksiä. Punamusta Oy. Helsinki.

Nykter, S. & Ikonen, A. 2022. Digitaalinen tuotepassi on kiertotalouspassi. eSignals. Haaga-Helia ammattikorkeakoulu. Helsinki.

World Economic Forum. 2020. Nature Risk Rising: Why the Crisis Engulfing Nature Matters for Business and the Economy. World Economic Forum. Geneve.