Finland to be the world leader in material-frugal design
Finnish cleantech solutions require good design in order to compete effectively out in the world. This year the World Design Capital Helsinki will also highlight the question of material efficiency which is one of the pre-requisites of internationally successful design.
From the individual’s perspective material efficiency, pared down, means only acquiring the products you actually need. Attitudes are key when it comes to developing material efficient products.
At the end of last year Cleantech Finland carried out two extensive reviews on the future of cleantech. An international survey brought in more than one thousand ideas from different countries while a comparison drew in information about the views of the world leading countries in cleantech.
The issues of material and energy efficiency featured prominently in both reports. In the respondents’ opinions technology needs to be developed so that greater attention is paid to waste utilization than at present.
There are two key questions related to material efficiency. First of all the respondents want to develop technology that will help save natural resources. The growth in demand for raw materials and the depletion of finite resources drives the need for improvements in material efficiency.
Secondly, respondents from around the world emphasized that the recycling of materials used should be made more effective than at present.
In relation to both of these issues, design has to take lifecycle thinking into consideration in everything from transport and energy sourcing right through to the end product.
For companies, material efficiency means using fewer raw materials and generating less waste. This means a significant saving as materials and their use can represent as much as one half of a company’s expenditure.
Finland’s strengths when it comes to material efficiency have traditionally derived from the pulp and paper industry. Today, alongside the traditional fields, design is coming to the forefront with consideration of the full lifecycle of materials.
