Bright Green Forssa Region - for greener business 1
The Forssa region has a long tradition of environmental business; activities such as metal, paper, paperboard and glass processing have been performed in the area for decades. With an increasing amount of environmental know-how drawn to the area in the past 15 years, it is now the strongest sector in the Forssa region. The Envitech environmental expertise centre has stood at the forefront of development in the industry for several years and been the first to adopt various recycling technologies in Finland, Europe and globally. While environmental business is already active and successful in the Forssa region, there is still plenty of demand here for experts in the environmental and energy sectors. There are, for example, numerous opportunities in planning and consulting services for the environmental sector, as well as plastic refining, energyefficient greenhouse operations and ecotourism. Perhaps your company will be the next pioneering business in the Forssa region? Forssa region: Forssa, Humppila, Jokioinen, Tammela, Ypäjä Total population approx. 40,000 55 % of the Finnish population live within 150 km of the region Highways 2, 9, 10 Turku Toijala Tampere railway International airports and harbours approximately one hour away Municipalities in the region customise plots of land according to needs Timo Lindvall Managing Director, The Development Centre of Forssa Region the attractive Bright Green Forssa Region The new business development strategy of the Forssa region, consisting municipalities of Forssa, Humppila, Jokioinen, Tammela and Ypäjä, is based on a bright green approach, focusing on business activities that are environmentally friendly and support sustainable development. Our goal is that, in the near future, residents, businesses, communities and decision-makers will recognise the environmental impacts of their actions and make a commitment to reduce them. The bright green strategy is based on the view that a green approach is profitable and desirable from both environmental and economic perspectives. Achieving bright green objectives naturally calls for significant investment. The Forssa region s preparedness for environmental business is realised in the good availability of business premises, business subsidies, supply of education and training, labour, know-how and a strong expert network. There are also investments in education, research and development: HAMK University of Applied Sciences, MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Faktia (Forssa Adult Education Center) as well as development organisations and companies in the region promote green business for their part, and also chart the opportunities and preconditions for bright green business activities in the region through various projects and studies. Materials and energy efficiency as well as solutions related to logistics and waste management are in a key role in the involvement of companies and organisations. BRIGHT GREEN FORSSA REGION 2010 Text and layout: Place Marketing Oy Original graphics: Mainossatama Oy Map graphics (pages 3 and 4): Place Marketing Oy Photographs: Companies in the area, Shutterstock PORI forssa 9 tampere hämeenlinna lahti 10 RIIHIMÄKI 2 1 2 3 turku helsinki
A p e rf e c t e n v i r o n m e n t f o r gr e e n b u s i n e s s Envitech, the coalition of environmental companies and organisations in the Forssa region, is one of the most comprehensive concentrations of environmental expertise in Europe. The Forssa region is home to many companies in the environmental and energy sectors with industryleading expertise in environmental technology, consulting and services. They offer environmental management solutions in the form of recycling, waste processing, recycled raw materials, research, planning and expertise. The Envitech area has quickly developed into a significant centre of material flows in Northern Europe. The Envitech Club, formed by companies and public entities in the area, protect the interests of the environmental business and promote development and co-operation in the region. Superior success factors From the perspective of environmental business, the Forssa region offers an ideal setting for green companies. The companies in the region have the support of a robust 4 infrastructure, a knowledgeable expert network, a strong community formed by companies in the environmental industry, good availability of recycled materials, skilled and motivated employees, a good supply of education and training in the field, diverse support services for the environmental sector, business subsidies, excellent yet cost-effective business premises and an ideal location in the centre of Southern Finland, only one hour away from Helsinki, Turku and Tampere. The close co-operation between businesses in the region offers companies the opportunity to share costs and make use of each other s materials, data, technologies, know-how, research results and energy. At present, there are approximately 20 companies located in the area, with over 200 professionals directly employed by them. Despite the high level of expertise in the area, there is still plenty of room for growth in environmental business in the region. Judging by the current rate of growth, the future of environmental business in the Forssa region looks very green. www.brightgreen.fi 5
Bright green businesses in the Forssa region ENVOR GROUP Envor Group offers versatile environmental and recycling services and is recognised at the national level as a pioneer in its field. The focus of its business is on comprehensive waste management, materials recycling, industrial cleaning, waste management solutions for the retail industry, property management as well as logistics services. Its effective environmental management services are based on careful analysis of the waste management situation, providing instruction, equipment solutions, training, effective recycling services and reporting. The Group s services are continuously developed to better respond to the needs of trade, industry and the property business. The Group s operations have been granted ISO 9001 quality certification and ISO 14001 environmental certification. Envor Group comprises four companies: Envor Biotech Oy, Envor Recycling Oy, Envor Processing Oy and Envor Palvelut. www.envor.fi Envor Biotech Oy Envor Biotech Oy is located in the Envitech area of Forssa and specialises in processing domestic and commercial biowaste, sewage sludge and various by-products from the food industry. The treated biodegradable materials are processed into high-quality nutrient and soil products for agriculture, households and landscaping. In 2009 Envor Biotech Oy processed 52,000 tons of different types of biodegradable waste and volumes are steadily growing. Biogas from the company s new biogas plant is used for heating and electricity production. The company also sells electricity to the national network. Other possible uses include selling the gas for use as an energy source by industrial companies in the region. Saint- Gobain Rakennustuotteet Oy (ISOVER s Forssa facility) has already begun using biogas. Biogas replaces liquefied petroleum gas as the energy source used for the production of glass wool. Using the gas in a purified form as fuel for cars is also a possibility in the future. The processing capacity of the plant is 56,000 tons of biowaste per year. This input produces over 4 million cubic metres of biogas output with an energy content of 26,000 MWh, corresponding to the energy consumption of approximately 2,000 single family homes. Envor Biotech Oy is presently building a third reactor to increase processing capacity to 84,000 tons. Producing bioenergy from waste materials is a solution that fully supports the goals of sustainable development. Envor Biotech Oy is partly owned by HKScan Oyj. www.envor.fi Envor Processing Oy Envor Processing Oy offers a diverse range of waste management and sorting services. It processes paperboard, cardboard, paper and newspapers. It also has specialised processes for handling confidential materials. Materials processed in the company s facility are then forwarded to the Finnish paper industry for use as raw material. The company has also begun to process energy waste in 2009. This helps it provide its clients better and more effective services.. www.envor.fi Envor Palvelut Envor Palvelut Oy offers comprehensive waste management services. The company plans and implements effective services to correspond with the operational demands set by the customer and provides them with appropriate waste and environmental management equipment. The efficiency of logistical services is ensured by a dedicated transport coordinator. Envor Palvelut also offers a wide range of suction truck services for wet and dry sewage removal, maintenance and washing services for heavy goods vehicles, property management and training services as well as statistics and reports according to customer needs. www.envor.fi Envor Recycling Oy Founded in 1964, Envor Recycling Oy receives and processes various types of metals for use as raw material by the Finnish steel industry. The company also offers a disassembly service for various assembly lines and other metal structures in industrial facilities. In addition to metal recycling, Envor Recycling Oy is a pioneer in the recycling of glass in Finland. Its operations can be traced back to the 1970s when it began supplying the glass wool industry with recycled raw materials. Envor Recycling remains Finland s leading company in processing float glass and is continuously developing new recycling solutions for various types of glass in cooperation with partners such as Tampere University of Technology. In 2009 Envor Recycling processed approximately 17,000 tons of various types of glass. www.envor.fi J. Syrjänen Oy J. Syrjänen Oy is a recycling centre that presently operates out of fully renovated production facilities and offices in the Kiimassuo Envitech area. The company is striving for cleaner nature through reducing the amount of waste in landfills and conserving non-renewable natural resources. J. Syrjänen Oy receives recyclable waste and energy waste from businesses. The company co-operates with clients in the construction and transport industries, manufacturers of construction supplies as well as industrial corporations. Its partners also include authorities in related fields and the manufacturers of recycling products. J. Syrjänen Oy also accepts recyclable waste from households. The company accepts all waste with the exception of mixed household waste. www.jsyrjanen.fi Watrec Oy Watrec Oy is a Finnish company specialising in environmental engineering and science. Its core competences lie in biogas technology, wastewater and process water treatment and consultancy services on environmental and energy related issues. The company s focus is on providing its clients tailored and cost-effective solutions that are in line with the principles of sustainable development, focusing particularly on the organic waste and wastewater treatment. Clients will be able to produce green, renewable energy with the help of state of the art solutions provided by Watrec. Watrec Oy s processes and plants make it possible to produce renewable energy, i.e. biogas, from organic waste materials and wastewater. The materials are treated in a cost-effective manner. The company works with its clients on the basis of longterm partnerships in several sectors, from primary production to heavy industry. Watrec Oy is dedicated to developing energy-efficient solutions that support renewable business operations. It also works continuously to develop state of the art technology to conserve the environment. www.watrec.fi Uusioaines ltd Uusioaines Ltd is Finland s leading company in recycling glass. It emphasises efficiency in recycling. The company specialises in the collection, delivery and cleaning of recyclable glass (packaging glass, float glass) and the preparation of cullet for industrial use as a raw material. By recycling glass, energy and natural resources are conserved while carbon dioxide emissions and the volume of landfill waste are reduced. Uusioaines Ltd opened a new glass recycling plant in Forssa in summer 2010. The new plant not only provides increased capacity, but the state of the art technology used also results in cleaner, purer cullet with a significant reduction in impurities and moisture content and major improvements in colour sorting and filtering out pyroceramics and crystalware. The capacity of the new plant is approximately 120,000 tons per year, which is enough to service Finland s glass recycling requirements for many years to come. In 2010, Uusioaines Ltd is investing in a foam glass plant and commencing the marketing and sales of foam glass. The new production plant will be constructed in Forssa, in the immediate vicinity of the company s existing glass cleaning plant. Foam glass is a light, crushed insulation product with a wide variety of future applications in road construction, housing construction and ground construction in general as an insulating layer to prevent frost from penetrating the ground. Due to its light weight, foam glass is also well suited for use in ground structures that require light materials. www.uusioaines.fi. www.uusioaines.fi vapo Oy Vapo is a major player in the energy supply sector in Finland. The company and its predecessors have been working in the field for over 70 years. Vapo s strategy in both Finland and the other countries it operates in is to produce local energy for local needs, thereby improving the energy self-sufficiency of the countries concerned. Vapo is committed to the principles of good corporate citizenship in all its operations and aims to continuously improve on them. As a producer of local fuels, the company emphasises awareness of the state of the environment, the recognition of its own environmental impacts and the minimising of negative effects on the environment. In the Forssa region, Vapo operates a plant in the Kiimassuo Envitech area. The power plant uses renewable biofuels for energy production. It produces approximately 95 % of the district heating required by the City of Forssa along with some 35 % of the electricity consumed in the area. www.vapo.fi 6 7
LHJ GROUP Cool-Finland Oy Suomen Elektroniikkakäsittely Oy Suomen Tietoturva Oy Ekoport Oy LHJ Group is a versatile expert in environmental and recycling operations. The Group provides advanced services for companies, the public sector and producers organisations. LHJ Group s task is to take care of its customers material flows responsibly and in an environmentally friendly manner. The Group s main business areas are electronics recycling, data security material handling, industrial waste treatment, soil remediation, municipal waste management as well as related collection, transport and expert services. LHJ Group is also able to provide comprehensive waste management services through its broad network of cooperation partners. The Group comprises five companies: LHJ Waste Management Ltd and the subsidiaries Suomen Tietoturva Oy, Suomen Elektroniikkakäsittely Oy and Suomen Erityisjäte Oy. LHJ is also a partner in Cool Finland Oy and Ekoport Turku Oy. www.lhjgroup.fi Cool Finland specialises in the treatment of refrigerators and freezers and the processing of materials from discarded appliances. The company s processing plant started its operations in 2005 when the responsibility of WEEE recycling was transferred to the producers. The development of refrigerator recycling operations started even before that, in the beginning of the decade. In addition to Finland, the company has operations in the Baltic countries. The company is owned by LHJ Group and OSL SA of Luxembourg and Germany, the leading technology provider in the industry. www.cool-finland.fi Loimi-Hämeen Jätehuolto Oy LHJ Waste Management Ltd provides municipal waste management services within the area of the 16 municipalities that own it. The company s typical tasks include receiving and collecting waste at waste treatment centres, collection points and through campaigns. The company s waste treatment centre in Forssa provides a broad range of recycling and processing solutions for both household and commercial waste. LHJ Waste Management also provides advisory services and training and is responsible for the dissemination of information and development related to waste management in its area of operations. www.lhj.fi Suomen Elektroniikkakäsittely provides recycling services for all electronic appliances from households, offices and production facilities. The company s services, from collection to transport and recycling, are available to customers throughout Finland. The company s processing plant employs the latest technology in its recycling processes to achieve the highest utilisation rate possible. www.sekoy.fi Suomen Erityisjäte Oy Suomen Eritysjäte specialises in the treatment of solid hazardous waste, contaminated soil and heavily contaminated soil, which are difficult to handle. The company s operations are based on strong expertise in waste management and the remediation of contaminated soil. The owner companies and the network of experts enable the company to offer a broad range of services for various types of needs. www.erityisjate.fi Suomen Tietoturva specialises in improving the data security of companies and the public sector. In addition to confidential materials like paper, archives and electronic files, the company handles the treatment of electronic equipment, non-marketable production, fake products and other such materials. The company s service model is based on a comprehensive approach to handling client needs. Suomen Tietoturva Oy takes care of all operations related to collection, processing, material recycling, reporting and development according to customer needs. The company guarantees that destroyed materials are utilised through either materials recycling or energy production. www.suomentietoturva.fi Ekoport Turku Oy collects waste oil and bilge water from vessels and, through a proprietary mechanical regeneration process, produces fuel and raw materials for industrial use. The company s end product is REACH pre-registered and meets the standards of heavy fuel oil. Processing bilge water at the company s processing plant in Turku has a significant positive effect on the conservation of the environment. Scheduled for completion in 2010, Ekoport s diesel plant in the Kiimassuo district of Forssa will be Finland s first plant for producing fuel out of household waste. Ekoport is committed to exemplary responsibility and respect for the environment. www.ekoport.fi 8 9
P i o n e e r i n g w o r k i n e n v i r o n m e n t a l b u s i n e s s 1995 1996 1997 2009 2010 2010 The glass cleaning plant established by Uusioaines Ltd in 1995 is the only one of its kind in Finland and technologically the most advanced in Northern Europe. The landfill opened by LHJ Waste Management in 1996 is the first landfill in Finland to meet EU requirements for landfill ground structures. The composting plant opened by Enver Biotech in 1997 is among the first industrial scale composting plants in Finland. Envor Biotech s biogas plant, opened in 2009, is among the first biogas plants in Europe with the ability to process packaged food waste. The company is presently constructing a third reactor in the plant. Upon completion in 2010, Ekoport s diesel plant will be Finland s only plant for producing fuel out of household waste. There are few similar plants to be found anywhere in the world. Uusioaines Ltd is responding to the growing purity requirements in the glass industry by opening a new plant for purifying packaging glass in 2010. State of the art technology results in purer cullet. Uusioaines is also investing in a foam glass production plant in 2010. The project is unique in Finland and the low mass, crushed insulation material produced in the plant is a completely new product. 1999 2003 2004 The integration of LHJ Waste Management s REF plant and power plant in 1999 was regarded to be very advanced, even on the international scale. In 2003, Niska&Nyyssönen began using Finland s first mobile thermal desorption plant for contaminated soil. In 2004, Suomen Elektroniikkakäsittely became the first company to use laser technology for recycling cathode-ray tube glass for further industrial use. The plant is still the only one in Finland with the capability to recycle cathode-ray tube glass for industrial use. 2010 In 2010, the Saint-Gobain Rakennustuotteet Oy (ISOVER) Forssa plant is set to become the world s first glass wool plant where renewable energy replaces fossil fuels. 2011 2011 - In 2011, a production plant operated by the ST1 energy company is set to open in Jokioinen, producing ethanol from the starch waste of a sugar plant. In 2004, Suomen Elektroniikkakäsittely became the first company to use laser technology for recycling glass from cathode-ray tubes for further use in industry. The plant is still the only one in Finland with the capability to recycle cathoderay tube glass for industrial use. 10 11
Education and research The Forssa region is home to a great deal of specialised high-level education and research in the environmental, agricultural and food sectors. Local schools and research institutes work in close collaboration with companies and support their operations. Faktia Forssa Adult Education Center Faktia offers diverse education in the fields of construction, environmental management, technology, logistics, well-being, business and information technology, to mention but a few. The school also offers a special vocational degree in environmental management, emphasising the prevention, reuse, non-harmful processing and placement of waste. Faktia also trains ecological builders and eco-counsellors for businesses. In total, Faktia offers over 50 vocational degrees as well as individual training programmes, training for various licences and permits as well as further training for company staff. In addition, Faktia provides services such as professional skills testing, work supervision, competence analyses and consulting on the financing of education and training. www.faktia.fi Hämeen ammattikorkeakoulu, HAMK With units in seven different municipalities, HAMK is one of Finland s largest universities of applied sciences. With over 40 degree programmes, HAMK offers a diverse range of study opportunities in environmental fields. The sustainable development programme at the school s Forssa unit produces bachelor s degree graduates in environmental planning with extensive knowledge of the sustainable use of natural resources, product life-cycle thinking, financially and culturally sustainable operating principles, applied environmental technology and chemistry as well as environmental management, legislation, business and management. Students in the sustainable development programme work in close co-operation with local businesses in the environmental field during their studies. The agricultural business and equine industry programmes offered in Mustiala (Tammela) produce graduates in agrology. The agricultural business programme is focused on the principles of sustainable development, providing graduates with the biological, technical and economic knowledge to work in various roles in the agricultural business. The horse husbandry programme covers the perspectives of entrepreneurship, recreational activity and international competition in this special field. Aspects related to the well-being of horses, the profitability of entrepreneurial activity as well as environmental requirements are all covered in the programme. www.hamk.fi Other organisations offering education and training in the region include Eerikkilä Sports Institute, Forssa Institute of Vocational Education and Ypäjä Equine College. MTT Agrifood Research Finland MTT is Finland s leading research institute in the field of agricultural and food research as well as agricultural environment research. It produces innovations and solutions related to renewable natural resources. MTT has organised its research activities in research programmes. The programme-based approach enables genuine multidisciplinary research, which is essential for efficient problem solving. MTT conducts research within eight research programmes permeating the entire organisation. The research promotes consumer welfare, the competitiveness of the agricultural and food industries, the sustainable use of natural resources, the quality of the production and living environment and the vitality of rural regions. MTT employs approximately 850 researchers and other experts at 14 municipalities across Finland. The organisation s head office is in Jokioinen. www.mtt.fi 12 13
Bright Green Projects The Forssa region is home to an active and continuously developing environmental business industry. The actors in the region believe in the power of co-operation and invest in the future with the goal of creating an efficient, practical bright green operating environment. There are currently numerous long-term projects underway in the area with goals such as promoting greener logistics and bioindustry. HEA humppila eco airport The business concept for Humppila Eco Airport is to take advantage of its geographical location along the shortest flight path between Europe and the Far East. The airport also complements the services provided by Helsinki-Vantaa airport. While services offered to cargo traffic are central to the airport s business concept, it will also offer services for flight training and business airlines. Ecology and sustainable development are the key strengths and competitive advantages of Humppila Eco Airport. Air traffic is designed to connect seamlessly to rail and road transport links to avoid unnecessary transfers and haulage and enable ecologically optimal implementation of logistics operations. Environmental aspects have been taken comprehensively into consideration in the design of the airport, from the energy efficiency of the airport buildings to waste management, fuel solutions, noise pollution as well as ground and surface waters in the area. The foundation of the airport and logistics centre is Humppila s advantageous location adjacent to the Turku-Tampere and Pori-Forssa-Helsinki highways. With a total population of approximately two million in the areas surrounding the Forssa region, the location has significant benefits for logistics. The eco-logistics area and airport are set for inclusion in the regional plan for Häme to be confirmed in 2011. www.hea.fi The Supply Chain Education and Research Centre at the HAMK University of Applied Sciences is carrying out three EU projects to develop green logistics in the region. www.hamk.fi 1. VELOG Appeal through Logistics The project promotes matters related to logistics in the Forssa region, including the development of the region s logistics links (road, rail, air), the creation of new services and applications and the improvement of the operating conditions of businesses in the area. www.hamk.fi/velog 2. VETOS Appeal through Supply Chain Competence The project involves improving the competitiveness and employment opportunities of regional businesses through developing supply chain competence. The objective is to promote the networking and internationalisation of businesses. www.hamk.fi/vetos 3. ELLO Developing the Southern Finland transport corridor The project involves creating a model for a future logistics hub based on combining different modes of transport efficiently. The future eco-logistics area will be developed in line with the principles and technologies of sustainable development. www.hamk.fi/ello and www.ellohanke.fi Envi Grow Park This unique eco-industrial park planned for the Envitech environmental expertise centre is intended to become a leading site for the production of biomaterials and bioenergy, where ecological aspects are taken into account in production, utilising side streams, energy consumption, logistics as well as marketing. Eco-efficiency is achieved by recycling materials, energy, expertise and information on a closed loop basis. The park s operations model is designed to be duplicatable. Envi Grow Park is an ideal operating environment for e.g. modern closed loop greenhouses, the production of green covers and growth media and the synergistic joint production of biofuels, food, animal feed and organic fertilisers. New business opportunities are developed on the basis of research results under the leadership of Agropolis Oy, an expert company on sustainable food industry and businesses based on renewable resources. www.envigrowpark.fi LOCARUS Low Carbon Rural Society The focus of this research and development project led by MTT Agrifood Research Finland is on the preconditions of a Finnish rural area to operate under the principles of sustainable development and a bioeconomic model in such a way as to make it as independent of fossil based materials as possible, have it utilise local biomass resources efficiently and close all material flows through the area as completely as possible. During the study, a comprehensive model will be created to simulate various solutions and assess them from the standpoints of ecology and costefficiency. The project will take place in the Forssa region. www.mtt.fi LCA IN LANDSCAPING LCA IN LANDSCAPING is a joint project led by MTT Agrifood Research Finland and funded by EU Life+ environmental funding to develop life-cycle assessment for the construction and management of lawns and present and develop the utilisation of recycled materials in the production of growth media and the construction and management of amenity lawns and other green cover areas. The project is set to begin in autumn 2010, and the first demonstration sites shall be established in summer 2011. www.mtt.fi 14 15
Glass wool powered by biogas Case: Envor Biotech and Saint-Gobain Isover Partnerships between companies in the environmental business in the Forssa region have undoubtedly been very productive. The co-operation between Envor Biotech and Isover is an excellent example of how businesses can benefit from each other while making their operations greener. Envor Biotech Oy operates a biogas plant in the Envitech area in Forssa, producing over four million cubic metres of biogas per year. Biogas produced at the plant is composed of approximately 60-70 % methane and 30-40 % carbon dioxide. Saint-Gobain Rakennustuotteet Oy operates a plant in Forssa producing ISOVER building insulation products, ISOTEC technical insulation products and ECOPHON acoustics products. ISOVER is the world s leading insulation brand and a pioneer in energy-efficient construction solutions. The two companies decided to join forces and, as a result, Saint-Gobain Rakennustuotteet Oy (ISOVER) will begin to utilise biogas at its Forssa plant in 2010. Biogas will replace liquefied petroleum gas as an energy source for the production of mineral wool insulation. The Forssa plant will be the world s first glass wool plant where traditional fossil fuels are replaced by renewable energy, enthuses Plant Manager Matti Salo. The solution is also ecological from a logistics standpoint, as the biogas used will be locally produced. The distance from the Envor biogas plant to the Isover production facility is only 2.5 kilometres and the gas will be transported via a gas pipe. The solution supports ecological operations and also makes sense from a business standpoint, which makes it a perfect example of bright green principles. One company s waste is another company s fuel case: Ekoport and St1 In addition to biogas, the Forssa region has a long history of producing recycled fuel for power plant use. Ekoport Oy and St1 are bringing two new technologies to the region, making it possible to refine waste into more advanced fuel products. Ekoport Turku Oy is constructing the Nordic countries first diesel oil plant that produces fuel from household waste in the Envitech area of Forssa. Ekoport s pilot oil plant is set to process approximately 15,000 tons of municipal waste per year, corresponding to waste from some 30,000 households, refining the waste mass into diesel in its conversion plant. The plant is able to utilise any matter containing carbon as a raw material. The process produces no emissions and only minor quantities of ash are produced as a by-product. The method is thereby a more environmentally friendly option, compared to incinerating or composting waste. The diesel oil produced in the plant will be distributed for use in vehicles through St1 petrol stations. When the process has been tested and optimised, the capacity is set to be expanded from the level planned for the pilot stage. The energy company St1 is also an active player on the bioenergy markets. The company s new production plant in Jokioinen is set to begin refining ethanol from starch waste produced at the Suomen Sokeri sugar refinery in 2011. St1 is presently searching for new raw materials for refining ethanol. By utilising waste in fuel production, the companies increase Finland s self-sufficiency in oil production and help Finland reach the EU fuel objective of having biofuels make up approximately 6 % of the total fuel consumption in transportation by the end of 2010. 16 17
BRIGHT GREEN, WELL INTO THE FUTURE Next-generation bioethanol plant Envor Group has initiated a bioethanol plant project in the Envitech area of Forssa. The bioethanol plant will use domestic grain as its primary raw material, but biowaste can also be used in the production process. The plant will yield valuable animal feed as a by-product, which can be delivered to local pig and cattle farms as liquid feed. The ethanol plant will also feature an integrated biogas plant that will be able to utilise the biodegradable portion of the plant s by-products, produce the energy needed to operate the plant itself and refine the nutrients in the plant s raw materials into organic fertiliser. Envor Group s bioethanol plant model is a comprehensive ecological design that helps fight climate change and, while being fully self-sufficient in terms of energy consumption, turns the carbohydrates in grain and waste into biofuels while recycling the protein and nutrients in the raw materials for further use. The project is a good example of a new way of thinking where the innovative combination of technologies helps serve the interests of both business and environmental protection in a diverse manner. The future is bioindustry There is no question that bioindustry and diversified bioeconomy constitute a developing field of significant international importance. The expertise in the Forssa region s ecoindustry park is set to constantly develop new solutions for these fields in the future. Large urban closed loop greenhouses will be commonplace and the production of green cover, growth media and biological fertilisers from recycled materials will become routine operations in the coming years. Naturally, the bioindustry processes will provide numerous business opportunities going forward in, among other things, developing intelligent control systems for the entire material flow value chain. New business opportunities are also provided by the utilisation of carbon dioxide from bioenergy production, by industrial hydroponics, which utilises bioenergy, and by finding innovative ways to take advantage of side streams that exist within the food industry. Voimavapriikki Oy is planning a significant wind power park in Forssa! There are plans to build a significant wind power park in the Kiimassuo district of Forssa-Tammela. Wind measurements to assess the feasibility of the project begun in spring 2010. If the measurements indicate that wind conditions are sufficient, Voimavapriikki Oy intends to build a wind power park of up to 30 wind turbines in the area. With each turbine having a capacity of 2-3 MW, the total capacity of the park would be 60-90 MW. Each wind turbine consists a mast that is 80-120 metres in height, an engine room and turbine blades measuring 45-55 metres in length. An environmental impact assessment has begun for the wind power park and the aim is to have it in production use by 2013. Further refining of materials and clean technology The material flows and expertise concentrated in the region provide an ideal foundation for enhancing the refining value of recycled materials. In addition to glass refining, for instance, the region can attract industrial activities related to the production and reuse of plastic and various composites. The region provides numerous synergy benefits for the testing and production of products and services related to environmental technology. Manufacturing industries can benefit from the area s advanced recycling services, environmental expertise and renewable energy in their production operations. Electric car test track In the future, the Forssa region is set to also assume a pioneering role in the testing and development of electric cars to expand on their uses in co-operation with international players in the industry. The EcoRing area offers a wide range of opportunities for the electric car business through a unique operating environment comprising test tracks and expert networks. 18 19
Join us in bright green growth! COME AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BRIGHT GREEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP www.brightgreen.fi The Development Centre of Forssa Region Managing Director Timo Lindvall Koulukatu 13, FI-30100 Forssa gsm +358 500 815 072 timo.lindvall@fskk.fi www.fskk.fi City of Forssa Mayor Mr. Tapani Venho Turuntie 18, FI-30100 Forssa gsm +358 50 564 0001 tapani.venho@forssa.fi www.forssa.fi Municipality of Humppila Mayor Esko Tonteri Kisakuja 2, FI-31640 Humppila gsm +358 500 482 320 esko.tonteri@humppila.fi www.humppila.fi Municipality of Jokioinen Mayor Jarmo Määttä Keskuskatu 29 A, FI-31600 Jokioinen gsm +358 500 591 534 jarmo.maatta@jokioinen.fi www.jokioinen.fi Municipality of Tammela Mayor Matti Setälä Hakkapeliitantie 2, FI-31300 Tammela gsm +358 50 569 4930 matti.setala@tammela.fi www.tammela.fi Municipality of Ypäjä Mayor Mrs. Sinikka Malin Perttulantie 20, FI-32100 Ypäjä gsm +358 50 574 7730 sinikka.malin@ypaja.fi www.ypaja.fi 20