On September 10-12, 2024, the Interreg Europe-funded and LAB-coordinated Design Collaboration for Sustainable Business (DeCo) project held an interregional event in Lahti and Helsinki for over 30 project partners and stakeholders from seven countries. The event showcased local, regional, and national examples of circular economy and design thinking while discussing how best to promote sustainability, boosting the project’s overall objective to advance design-driven sustainability policies (DeCo 2024).
Three days confirmed that diversity of perspectives enhances understanding of complex issues. Diverse groups with different cultural backgrounds tend to produce more accurate and comprehensive solutions, improving problem-solving and offering broader interpretations of challenges. (Lauring & Selmer 2012; Ely & Thomas 2001) Participants from Finland, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Spain, Poland, and Greece engaged in fruitful dialogue, reflecting how legislation, culture, and readiness for sustainable strategies vary across countries.
Diverse perspectives, rich Discussions
Day one featured visits to LAB’s circular economy and sustainable housing laboratories, followed by regional and national strategy presentations. Taina Nikula (2024) from the Ministry of Environment emphasized that the circular economy is vital for Finland to reduce raw material consumption, promote sustainable growth, and support a carbon-neutral economy through innovation and competitiveness. She highlighted design’s critical role in developing resource-efficient, durable, and recyclable products. Sanna Tuominen (2024) from the Päijät-Häme Regional Council stressed that influencing consumer behavior is key to advancing sustainability. The day ended with a visit to Ant Brew, where the local microbrewery’s innovative use of excess raw materials sparked lively discussions.
Case Studies on Sustainability
Day two focused on local case studies combining design with sustainability. A visit to Isku, one of Finland’s oldest furniture companies, demonstrated the role of sustainability heritage as a business driver. Jasmiina Kolehmainen from Puine, a two-person interior design company, gave insights into circular production and customer education on sustainability. Presentations by Päivi Oksanen at Sibelius Hall and Sanna Virta from the City of Lahti highlighted sustainability measures and participatory design. Annariina Ruokamo shared achievements from the Digital & Sustainable Fashion Showroom project, showcasing how digitalization may foster sustainable business in clothing companies.
On the third day, participants visited Helsinki for an introduction to the city’s design-driven sustainability efforts. Aalto University’s “Designs for a Cooler Planet” exhibition and presentations from the Helsinki-Uusimaa Circular Hub and the Helsinki Design Journey offered close-ups on how the Finnish capital embraces circular economy practices.
As the first of many interregional events, the insights gained in Lahti will guide DeCo in its ongoing efforts to improve development policies through innovative approaches and capacity building in sustainable design, production, and manufacturing.
Author
Ari Hautaniemi is an RDI Specialist and a project manager in the Institute of Design and Fine Arts at LAB University of Applied Sciences.
References
Interreg Europe. 2024. DeCo Project summary. Cited 4 Oct 2024. Available at https://www.interregeurope.eu/deco
Ely, R., & Thomas, D. 2001. Cultural Diversity at Work: The Effects of Diversity Perspectives on Work Group Processes and Outcomes. Administrative Science Quarterly, 46, pp. 229 – 273. Cited 4 Oct 2024. Available at https://doi.org/10.2307/2667087
Lauring, J., & Selmer, J. 2012. Knowledge sharing in diverse organisations. Human Resource Management Journal, 22, pp. 89-105. Cited 4 Oct 2024. Available at https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1748-8583.2010.00158.X
Nikula, T. 2024. Strategic programme to promote a circular economy & circular design. Presentation at the 1st DeCo Interregional Event in Lahti 10 Sep 2024.
Tuominen, S. 2024. Green by Nature. Presentation at the 1st DeCo Interregional Event in Lahti 10 Sep 2024.
