Starting a ‘grassroots circular economy skills’ project, in Vaasa, Finland
Beginning the journey. Circular skills in Vaasa
Earlier this year, I embarked on the first phase of a project with Cooperative3E in Vaasa, Finland, as part of their ‘sustainable lifestyle - grassroots circular economy’ initiative, funded by STEA (the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health). Their mission is to tackle sustainability challenges at a local level through hands-on, skill-sharing workshops and community groups. These grassroots activities were designed to promote two-way integration, equipping participants with practical tools and knowledge to incorporate circular economy principles into everyday life.
We chose to start by focusing on sustainability within fashion and textiles, a theme that resonates across diverse backgrounds. This space offers an inspiring platform for sharing, learning, and creativity, while also encouraging the development of practical skills. The activities aim to not only inspire participants but also to give them a sense of belonging and empower them to be active citizens capable of shaping their own sustainable lifestyles.
Recognising materials: A gateway to circularity
As I’ve delved deeper into the circular economy, it’s become clear that understanding the materials we use is fundamental to making sustainable choices. To fully grasp the circular economy, especially the difference between the biological and technical loops, we need to understand the composition of products. This awareness enables us to make informed decisions about what we buy, use, and discard—decisions that have a direct impact on both the environment and our well-being.
The biological cycle: small changes, big impact
I decided to centre our first three workshops at Cooperative 3E on the biological cycle of the circular economy, one of the key concepts represented in the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's “butterfly diagram.” According to the Foundation:
“In the biological cycle, the nutrients from biodegradable materials are returned to the Earth to regenerate nature.”
Focusing on this cycle allows us to make a tangible impact. Even small behavioural changes—such as choosing biodegradable materials—can lead to significant improvements in sustainability and well-being. By prioritising materials that can naturally decompose and nourish the Earth, we contribute to the planet’s health, promoting resource regeneration instead of depletion.
The importance of material knowledge
Recent data from The Woolmark Company highlights a staggering rise in global synthetic textile fiber consumption, from just 0.7 million tonnes in 1960 to 89.7 million tonnes in 2024.
This brought me to a key question: unless someone has a background in fashion or textiles or has inherited this knowledge through generations—as I’ve noticed many Finns traditionally do—how easily can they differentiate between natural and synthetic fibres? For those of us who didn’t grow up in Finland, how extensive was our education on natural materials? If someone walks into a shop, can they distinguish a linen shirt from a polyester one just by touch or sight, without even checking the label?
Understanding a product's material is crucial for defining its role in the circular economy. Natural fibres can biodegrade and re-enter the biological cycle, whereas mixed or synthetic fibres contribute to waste in the technical loop. Becoming more informed about natural materials helps us make conscious lifestyle choices that reduce the demand for synthetics, slowing their negative impact on both our immediate environment and the planet at large. This seems like an ideal starting point for our workshops: to deepen our knowledge in these areas and work towards slowing the flow of synthetics. From there, we can explore workshops focused on up-cycling and reusing, tackling the vast amounts of synthetic materials already in circulation.
For a more detailed exploration of closing the loop in textiles, within the circular economy, check out Fibershed’s "Closing the Loop: Can Compostable Textiles Help Lead Us Into the Future?
Learning from experts
As a newcomer to Finland, I wanted to deepen my understanding of the natural fibre landscape. I had the privilege of speaking with Maria Ehrnström-Fuentes, Associate Professor at Hanken School of Economics, whose research focuses on grassroots sustainability in the food and textile sectors. I also spoke with Ulrika Dahlberg, Project Leader of the NorNa – Nordic Natural Fibres in Circular Economy project at Novia University of Applied Sciences. These conversations shaped the direction of the first three workshops.
My perspective has also been influenced by Real Circularity by Ken Alston and Rachel Kan, who stress the importance of sustainable circularity:
“Closing loops in a circular economy isn’t automatically sustainable. Many loop-closing strategies are circular but unsustainable. It’s vitally important to be sustainably circular.”
Together, we can strive to be part of circular systems that are both circular and sustainable.
Shifting mindsets and practicing circularity
Alston and Kan also encourage us to rethink our relationship with products, urging us to see ourselves as “users” rather than “consumers” we can apply this to fashion and textiles too:
“Our products are not alive, but we often speak of them having ‘life cycles.’ In reality, we use most things; we don’t consume them. You can’t eat these clothes or products, so you’re not a consumer—you’re a user. And there can always be a next use.”
By shifting this mindset, we view our clothing and textiles as resources that can be reused, extending their life cycles and nurturing a deeper connection with the items we own.
Alston and Kan also emphasise the need to move beyond awareness:
“Real circularity moves from talk to action, from ideas to implementation, from intellectual understanding to behavioural practice. To do something better, more sustainably than you did before.”
By understanding the broader picture of circularity, we can more easily integrate small, positive changes into our daily routines as active citizens, and as a grassroots community, we can play an important role in the circular economy.
Workshops 2024
Exploring natural fibres and circular skills with Fibershed Finland: Our first workshop - May 2024
Natural dyeing with mushrooms and Finnsheep wool - October 2024
Palosaari Community Group 2024
Learn how we established the first "grassroots circular economy" community group and the peer-led learning approach that guided our initial meetings.