Finland Moves Towards a Bioeconomy With its Natural Resource Strategy

HELSINKI, May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- In Finland, leaders in various fields
have taken up the challenge presented by the increasing use of natural
resources. Jointly, they have set out to find an answer to the question of
how to use natural resources to enhance both national competitiveness and
global responsibility. One result of this cooperation is the Natural Resource
Strategy for Finland, a unique effort on a global scale. The strategy work
was coordinated by Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, in collaboration with
a wide range of national actors.
"The Natural Resource Strategy is unlike any other investigation into
this subject in that it studies the use of natural resources from a much
wider perspective, across sector boundaries," says Eeva Hellstrom, Executive
Director of the Natural Resource Strategy for Finland.
"The strategy concentrates mainly on the intelligent use of natural
resources, by which we mean creating viable business operations and
increasing wellbeing through sustainable and responsible actions."
The strategy proposes a new path that Finland could follow. It specifies
eighteen points as steps towards the goal, including the creation of local
biorefinery operations as a regional network, increasing product-specific
resource efficiency, and developing natural resources accounting.
"The strategy serves as a joint declaration of intent by a wide range of
representatives, unique in its kind. The Government of Finland has also
adopted the main goals of the strategy in its recent mid-term policy review."
New business could be created through, for example, the bioeconomy and
creating efficient material cycles. Immaterial assets connected to natural
resources, such as quietness and cleanliness, may also become economically
important issues in Finland. Overall, creating an efficient bioeconomy may be
a significant factor in improving national competitiveness, in Finland as
well as in other countries.
"Natural resource policies will also be placed on the international
politicy agenda," says Eeva Hellstrom. "The first concrete sign of this is
the launch of the UN Resource Panel, in which Finland and the EU played an
active role. Finland has created its trailblazing natural resource strategy
in good time. Taking initiative and engaging in international dialogue are an
essential part of the strategy."
Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, is an independent public fund which,
under the supervision of the Finnish Parliament, promotes the welfare of
Finnish society.
The Natural Resource Strategy for Finland:
http://www.sitra.fi/naturalresources
SOURCE Sitra

Contacts: Eeva Hellstom, Sitra, +358-50-3512412, firstname.lastname@sitra.fi