227/08 Social challanges s the basis for foresight - Gaia

provide new production solutions and innovations.
Holistic planning of natural resources through the
whole life-cycle produces new services and systems
in industry.
Basic research on material and energy flows and
understanding of material life-cycle models must
be in place. National and international regulation
must be supportive to recycling and re-use of
products. New criteria and methods and technologies
for sustainable use of materials need to be
developed and local social and economical
sustainability need models. Realistic understanding
of the exploitation potential of natural resources
can be achieved through education and
research. It’s also important to use the utilized resources
to the fullest, e.g. through collaboration
with other industries.
The main drivers for sustainable use of materials
are globally increasing demand for energy and
raw-materials and at the same time the resources
are limited. That leads to price increase. Uncon-
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Why?
Drivers
and
trends
What?
Central
solutions
How?
– skills
– practices
– co-operation
Sustainable use of resources and material
Ingreasing demand for energy
and other natural resources
globally
Utilisation of side flows
and waste
Technologies that support efficient
use of the natural resources
Understanding of available natural
resources and sustainable consumption
level n Finland and globally
Limited resources and higher
prices
Holistic planning of the whole lifecycle of
natural resources in different industries
Increased recycling
Criteria and models for
sustainable use of materials
Basic research e.g. on
material and energy
flows
Damage to the environment
Industrial ecology
Models for social and
economic sustainability
locally
Regulation that
supports re-use and
recycling
Figure 5.5. Drivers, solutions and actions to reach the goals of sustainable use of
resources and material
trolled use of energy and materials and waste production
are harmful for the environment.
Sustainable uses of resources might be questionable
if the environmental impacts of the process
exceed the benefits. Sustainable actions must ensure
the continuation of local employment and
businesses.
The drivers, solutions and actions are summarised
in Figure 5.5.
Environmental competence and
management of the society
A sustainable society ensures that basic education
and competence levels are good and regulative
measures ensure active development. The target
for those was set for 2010. The goal is to increase
Finnish exports and that calls for competent expertise
also in political decision making and in public
and private sectors to facilitate the implementation
of actions. Central solutions to achieve the target