Understanding material transition for a sustainable future
Energy transition, industrial transition, material transition to name a few – Humanity is definitively in transition!
This is very important topic for all of us. I would like to approach the subject from two points of view which are biodiversity and production of sustainable materials.
The big question is, how do we ensure that we have enough raw materials for the future and at the same time take into account biodiversity? Material transition plays a key role in this challenge.
Ensuring biodiversity during material transition
We at Sweco see this era of transitions as an opportunity. We are practical engineers and we got expertise to create solutions together with our clients. We have developed a biodiversity tool which we pilot at the moment together with our clients. Our tool can be used in both urban planning and industrial areas to assess the current situation and the effect of possible changes might have on the biodiversity in the certain area.
The need for sustainable materials in material transition
Let’s dive into this material transition from another perspective, the need for sustainable materials. To ensure feedstock availability, every carbon atom counts. The good news is carbon is the raw material which is available in practically unlimited quantities unlike e.g., many metals and minerals. What we need is to capture it and refine it to new products and materials. It is not easy but it´s definitely possible. Think for example of waste plastics – there we’ve immense source of recyclable carbon.
Sweco’s role in energy and industrial transition
Sweco has a large portfolio of projects which are in the core of energy, industrial, and material transition. Our projects cover energy systems, power grids, and hydrogen. Sweco has been involved in many large industrial projects related to the circular economy, CCU & CCS as well as battery technologies. In connection with transport, we work fossil-free fuels and electrification.
We are truly transforming society: not only in words but through extremely resource-efficient energy and the use of raw materials for industrial-scale production, with a lower carbon footprint and the ability to store carbon. Isn´t it amazing what our engineers are capable of!
Tuulamari Helaja, Business Unit Director, Biobased Industry at Sweco. Contact tuulamari.helaja@sweco.fi.