The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region is participating in the CIRCULANDIA project, which develops circular economy-based food systems, together with 35 European organizations. The aim of the project is to move away from linear models of production, consumption, and waste towards circular economy solutions. The focus areas include regenerative agriculture, local food production and distribution, and reusable packaging solutions. The project has received €9.6 million in funding from the European Commission’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.
The solutions developed in the project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen soil health and natural ecosystems, and shorten food supply chains. At the same time, they will reduce packaging waste and promote more efficient use of resources across the entire food system.
Pilots and demonstration sites across Europe
Between 2026 and 2030, the project will implement a wide range of activities, including scaling and replicating a monitoring system for verifying carbon sequestration, directing municipally owned farmland towards regenerative farming practices, and urban farming demonstrations. In addition, locally underutilised bio-based streams will be identified and utilised. The project will also build a full-scale local ecosystem for reusable packaging and increase consumer interest in reusable packaging solutions.
The project targets cities, regions, public authorities, small and medium-sized enterprises, the hospitality and restaurant sector, farmers, civil society organisations, research institutions, as well as industrial, technology, and financial actors.
Driving change together
The project brings together 35 organizations from 12 European countries. These organizations represent cities, regions, companies, industry actors, clusters, research organisations, and NGOs.
The Council of Uusimaa implements scalable demonstrations in the region together with partners and is responsible for project communications. The project is coordinated by the Finnish company CLIC Innovation. The consortium also includes, from Finland, the cities of Vantaa and Espoo, the Baltic Sea Action Group, the Finnish Meteorological Institute, Kekkilä-BVB Oy, and the University of Helsinki and the University of Vaasa.
The solutions are developed and tested in four cities, after which they will be adapted for use in seven additional cities and ten regions. In Finland, the adapted solutions will be adopted by Tuusula, Hyvinkää, and Raseborg.
The scalable and transferable operating models developed in the project support the objectives of the European Green Deal as well as the European Commission’s Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI).
- CLIC Innovation (Finland)
- Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council (Finland)
- City of Vantaa (Finland)
- Stadt Freiburg (Germany)
- Ajuntament de Manacor (Spain)
- Møre og Romsdal fylkeskommune (Norway)
- Metropole Européenne de Lille (France)
- Stad Roeselare (Belgium)
- City of Espoo (Finland)
- Município de São João da Madeira (Portugal)
- Zagrebacki Holding d.o.o. (Croatia)
- Intercommunale de gestion de l’environnement – IPALLE (Belgium)
- Baltic Sea Action Group (Finland)
- Finnish Meteorological Institute (Finland)
- Stiftelsen Norsk Senter for Økologisk Landbruk / NORSØK (Norway)
- Kekkilä-BVB Oy (Finland)
- University of Helsinki (Finland)
- Flanders`Food (Belgium)
- Mission Zero Academy (Belgium)
- Fundació Catalana per a la Prevenció de Residus i el Consum Responsable (Spain)
- Evolvis (Belgium)
- Fair Resource Foundation (Netherlands)
- University of Vaasa (Finland)
- GreenDelta GmbH (Germany)
- IDEA Strategische Economische Consulting (Belgium)
The following multiplier cities and regions support wider uptake and future adoption:
- Câmara Municipal do Funchal (Portugal)
- Executive Committee of the Khmelnytskyi City Council of Khmelnytskyi Region (Ukraine)
- Executive Committee of Lutsk City Council (Ukraine)
- Ville de Bruxelles (Belgium)
- Ville de Roubaix (France)
- Metropole de Lyon (France)
- Latvijas Korporativas Socialas Atbildibas Platforma (Latvia)
- Municipality of Tuusula (Finland)
- City of Hyvinkää (Finland)
- City of Raasepori (Finland)
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Learn more
Environmentally Smart Helsinki-Uusimaa
Helsinki-Uusimaa is aiming at climate neutrality by the year of 2030, in line with the forerunner municipalities of the region. The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Climate Roadmap is the guideline for the climate work.
For more information, please contact:
Pipsa Salolammi
Project Manager
pipsa.salolammi@uudenmaanliitto.fi
CIRCULANDIA project, Helsinki-Uusimaa Circular Hub
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