PI's virtual seminar on November 17th, was about climate change and digitalisation, acting as drivers in the forest industry. Digital learning environment for forest-based bioeconomy, ForestBioFacts, was published.
The role of the climate change and digitalisation was presented by professionals and futurist and innovator Perttu Pölönen, bringing perspective outside the field. ForestBioFacts, digital learning environment was officially published and now everyone can utilise it for building a more sustainable world.
Mikko Paloneva from Deloitte brought up the influences of climate change to the Finnish companies: changes in the supply chain, bioeconomy, environmental risks of the economy and investments and competence development.
Saila Kettunen from Kotkamills presented consumers' expectations, based on values, for the fibre-based products. In addition to the functionality of the packages, also feelings, self-actualisation, hope and motivation matters and these can be utilised in the development and marketing of the sustainable products.
Jukka Ravaska from Fintoil told about the biorefinery with its 200 000 tonnes of capacity planned to be built in Hamina and starting its operation in the summer 2022. "The tall oil distillate has 90 % smaller GHG emissions compared to fossil ones. Most of the products will be used for producing biodiesel but also for products in chemical, food and pharma industry."
Pirita Mikkanen from Metsä Group presented how multiple actors in forest industry and IT have successfully collaborated in the SEED project. Digital solutions have provided productivity and innovations for paper, board and pulp mills.
The keynote speeker Perttu Pölönen illustrated future's working life skills: besides the competence in technology, story telling skills, experimental attitude and problem solving skills and adaptability will be needed. Also the entrepreneurial attitude will be beneficial in the forest industry. "I believe that the next revolution is human. Everything starts from the meaningfullness that can be argued. Those tasks where we don't give anything from ourselves as humans, are easy to automatise."
The day was concluded with a panel discussion lead by Nina Pulkkis. Jouni Paltakari, Heli Kangas, Olli Dahl and Perttu Pölönen were reflecting the importance of impacting on the EU legislation to secure the sustainability of the forest-based materials and the skills needed in the future's working life.
16 new members and 19 student members were accepted and welcomed to join PI in the Autumn Meeting. Vision Hunters Ltd. joined the 50 company members of PI.
Congratulations for the receivers of the grants and scholarships
- Post-Doc Scholarship: D.Sc. Krista Koljonen for the research “SpinCELL-Electrospinning of the cellulose-based materials”
- Research Grants for Doctoral Thesis:
- M.Sc. Rajesh Koppolu (Åbo Akademi) ”Processability of Nanocellulose-based Biodegradable Barrier Coatings for Food Packaging”
- M.Sc. Most Kaniz Moriam (Aalto University) ”Tuning mechanical properties of man-made cellulose fibers to compete with synthetic fiber”
- M.Sc. Luyao Wang (Åbo Akademi) ”Lignin-carbohydrate complex stabilized Pickering emulsion-based 3D printed constructs for sustained release of hydrophobic drug”
- M.Sc. Xin Yue (Oulu University) ”Fractionation of lignin using deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and production of lignin nanoparticles in various application”
- Johan Gullichsen Award: M.Sc. Brita Peltokoski for the best presentation given in the Nordic Wood Biorefinery virtual Conference 13.-15.10.2020 with the title of “Valorizing biorefinery side stream for paper and board applications”
Read more in the Paperi ja Puu magazine and have a look on the English presentation materials on the member pages!
Photos: Jari Härkönen