Background and objective Circular Economy is a new model of the economy, where materials and value circulate and add value to products with services and intelligence. The potential of the circular economy has been identified both in the EU Circular Economy Package, in the National Government Programme and in Päijät-Häme.The main objective of the circular economy model of Päijät-Häme and the road map for the transition to a circular economy is to promote circular economy-related business from the starting points of the regional development. The aim is to support the transformation of the existing processes, products and services of companies in the region towards the circular economy, to promote the emergence of new business and to find new practical solutions. The aim of the project is also to strengthen the expertise related to the circular economy in the region and to enable new innovations. One objective is the internationalisation of operations. Measures The project measures create a circular economy model in Päijät-Häme, which includes information on the area’s material flows, operator networks and the development needs of the circular economy in different areas. The circular economy model is visualised using information design. The circular economy model includes biological and technical material flows as well as the potential of a consumer-oriented circular economy business. Based on the circular economy model, a road map towards a circular economy is drawn up together with stakeholders in the region. At least five of the identified business opportunities will be selected as business models to be developed. The project’s pilot and demonstration environments section will map the existing circular economy skills and resources in the region and identify the need for common demonstration environments and investments. The physical and digital recycled materials library piloted in the project will provide design and design experts with information on new materials and their properties for innovation and product development processes. The potential of user-driven business is explored, for example, by means of user mappings. In addition, rapid experimental testing is carried out and remodified prototypes are prepared. The project’s experimental development will focus on testing and modelling a new service unit focusing on the recycling business. The project results will result in a visual circular economy model, a road map for the transition to a circular economy, estimates of the business opportunities of the region’s circular economy and business models for selected circular economy solutions. Other results include an implementation model for common demonstration environments, a physical and digital recycled materials library, design project prototypes, a replicate service and business description of a full-service recycling centre and an implementation plan for the mass plant. The result will also provide information on new solutions in the circular economy, such as sharing economy or processes for the development of new types of fertiliser products. The results of the project are also international funding applications for scaling up activities. The project is coordinated by the Lahti University of Applied Sciences and the other implementations are LADEC Oy, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Muovipoli Oy and Lahti Workn Paikka Oy.
