News
8.12.2025
The European Commission published its new Bioeconomy Strategy today, setting the direction for the development of one of Europe’s fastest-growing sectors. The bioeconomy still holds considerable untapped potential, which the Commission now aims to unlock to drive sustainable economic growth, accelerate innovation and create new jobs. The strategy is also directly linked to Helsinki-Uusimaa’s goals for climate neutrality, the circular economy, biodiversity and sustainable food systems.
News
19.11.2025
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme and the roadmap for a carbon neutral Helsinki-Uusimaa 2030 identify a need to transform the region’s food system to become more sustainable. Helsinki-Uusimaa aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2030, and making the region’s food system more sustainable and low-carbon plays a key role in achieving this climate target.
News
23.10.2025
The European Commission is currently preparing new legislation on the circular economy (Circular Economy Act). The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council and the Uusimaa Circular Hub are taking part in the discussion and have drafted a position paper on the legislative proposal together with stakeholders.
News
1.7.2025
Circular economy is no longer a mere environmental accomplishment - it is also about competitiveness, security of supply and generally, savings. To promote a sustainable resource-wise future, the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council has joined a regional green deal for circular economy. The green deal is a voluntary commitment in which the participating municipalities are offered support for concrete actions and gives them new opportunities to find solutions and start pilot projects.
News
26.6.2025
More and more sectors are now furthering a transition to circular economy. The Helsinki-Uusimaa Circular Hub was an import cooperation platform for circular economy solutions in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region, founded in 2023. Highlights from the first project years of the Circular Hub have now been put together in the publication Stories from the Circular Hub, raising both the updates of the sectors and the actors of the regional Hub.
News
23.6.2025
The European Commission is currently preparing a new bioeconomy strategy that will set guidelines for a functioning circular economy, sustainable production, bio-based products and consumption in Europe. The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council, in cooperation with the Helsinki EU Office and regional stakeholders, has prepared a position paper summarising views on the Commission's upcoming bioeconomy strategy.
News
22.4.2025
In February, the European Commission published its Vision for Agriculture and Food. The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council wants to actively participate in the discussion on the guiding principles of the EU's future agricultural and food policy. In cooperation with the Helsinki EU Office and stakeholders, the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council has prepared a position paper that brings together our Region’s views on the Commission's vision.
Blog
28.3.2025
The circular economy isn’t just a technical fix or environmental upgrade. It’s a strategic pathway to resilience, competitiveness, and sovereignty. And it is often regions and cities, working in collaboration with businesses, academia, and civil society, that are best positioned to facilitate this transition. Senior Adviser Christine Chang examies the role of regions and cities in the circular diplomacy.
Cases
10.3.2025
In Lohja, a former landfill site has been developed into an ecosystem where, among other things, the utilization of biochar and the production of local food are being piloted.
News
3.12.2024
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council started the process of a thematic green transition land use plan in May 2024. The new plan completes the legally valid Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Land Use Plan with themes including energy, technical service, business, logistics, as well as environment and climate.
News
1.10.2024
The European Commission has identified the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region as a Regional Innovation Valley (RIV). In cooperation with other top regions in circular economy, Helsinki-Uusimaa is carrying out the project European Circular Innovation Valley, the ECIV.
News
25.9.2024
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council, in cooperation with the City of Espoo, will host the European Committee of the Regions' Commission for the Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) on 26-27 September. During the two-day event in Espoo, the Commission will examine the future prospects for EU climate policy.
News
24.9.2024
Mr Eero Venäläinen at the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council started as the new Regional Development Director at the beginning of August. Our operational environment is undergoing great changes, but he believes in the future.
Cases
5.9.2024
When you start restoring an entire water body, you need a large number of actors. In the case of the Mustijoki river, this includes a number of municipalities, landowners, businesses and local residents in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region.
Cases
5.8.2024
The importance of green infrastructure will increase as the climate warms. Strategically designed green spaces help adapt to climate change, support natural diversity and enhance amenity. InnoGreen is testing how to transform tram stops into urban outdoor green spaces.
News
14.5.2024
Finnish cities, municipalities and regions act as circular economy innovation platforms. To share our best practices with the rest of the world, we put them all together in our handbook “Finland – Local Solutions Are Born Here”.
News
21.3.2024
Finland, a pioneer in circular economy, will be a prominent participant in the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) organised in April. Finland will showcase new circular economy innovations and cooperation models at the Forum. The Helsinki-Uusimaa Circular Hub is also participating in the Circular Economy Super Week.
News
14.2.2024
VTT was commissioned by the Helsinki-Uusimaa Circular Hub to investigate the material flows and business opportunities of construction and demolition in Helsinki-Uusimaa. The results show that the generation of construction waste is strongly concentrated in the metropolitan area.
Cases
30.1.2024
The river barriers of RiverRecycle are cleaning plastic waste in the globally most polluted rivers and removing it to waste treatment plants. Construction material can be produced from trash that is considered worthless.
News
22.1.2024
The Towards Carbon Neutral Municipalities (Hinku) network brings together municipalities, businesses, citizens and experts to create and carry out solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In December 2023, the network published its first annual report.