Emission reduction potential was calculated to Finland’s first end-of-life textile refinement plant Lounais-Suomen Jätehuolto Oy (LSJH) (southwestern Finland waste management) is a company owned by 18 municipalities. It takes care of organizing the residents’ waste management and waste disposal on behalf of these municipalities. Approximately 440 000 inhabitants live in the company’s operating area. The biggest owners of LSJH are the city of Turku and the city of Salo. Case Lounais-Suomen Jätehuolto Oy We calculated the climate change impact and emission reduction potential of Lounais-Suomen Jätehuolto Oy’s post-consumer textile refinement plant to be built in Topinpuisto, Turku. Greenhouse gas emissions and the emission reduction potential were assessed via project scenario and baseline scenario Emission reduction potential refers to climate benefit that can be achieved by recycling end-of-life textiles passing through the plant in comparison to the reference system where textiles are not separately collected and recycled. The plant will be the first full-scale plant mechanically recycling consumer textiles in Finland, and when the plant is completed, Finland will be the first country in the world where post-consumer textiles are obtained nationwide for reuse and recycling. The study is also the first of its kind, as similar life cycle assessment of post-consumer textile recycling has not been carried out before. The calculation was carried out following the life cycle assessment standards ISO 14044 and ISO 14040 as well as the Climate Fund’s guidelines for calculation of emission reduction potential. Only the climate change impact (also called global warming potential or carbon footprint) of textile recycling was studied, and no other environmental impacts or benefits. Greenhouse gas emissions and the emission reduction potential of the plant were assessed via two scenarios: the “project scenario” and the “baseline scenario”. In the project scenario the emissions were assessed in the situation where the project (end-of-life textile refinement plant) will be implemented, and the plant is in operation. In the baseline scenario the emissions were assessed in the situation where the plant is not implemented and the post-consumer end-of-life textiles end up in energy utilization together with mixed waste due to the lack of recycling routes, as in the current situation. Textile recycling can achieve significantly greater emission credits Based on the results, recycling of post-consumer end-of-life textiles can have remarkable climate change benefits. The greenhouse gas emissions caused by the recycling of end-of-life textiles are slightly lower than the ones caused by combustion, but textile recycling can achieve significantly greater emission credits (i.e., avoided impacts). The most significant environmental benefits, in relation to one kilogram of textile, can be achieved by directing the reusable textile to reuse as such without mechanical or chemical processing. In this way, the entire manufacturing chain of new textiles from fibers to the finished products is avoided which is indicated in high emission credits, and at the same time the mechanical processing or combustion of end-of-life textiles is not required. From the perspective of recycled textile materials, especially the recycling of wool, was found to have a significant climate benefit compared to other fibers, since manufacturing of virgin wool has high carbon footprint. However, the amount of wool compared to other textile qualities is often relatively small. The recycling of synthetic fibers (e.g., polyester) based on fossil oil also brings significant climate benefits, because in addition to the production of virgin fibers, the release of fossil carbon during combustion is avoided.
The carbon footprint calculations support the carbon neutrality target under the Stormossen’s strategy Waste management company Stormossen is owned by six municipalities in Ostrobothnia to manage the waste from the owner municipalities. The owner municipalities are Vaasa, Korsholm, Isokyrö, Korsnäs, Malax and Vörå. In these six municipalities live approx. 105,000 inhabitants. The centre of the business consists of the waste treatment plant in Koivulahti (Kvevlax) in the municipality of Mustasaari (Korsholm). Stormossen’s first refuelling Station for vehicle biogas was opened in February 2017.
Carbon footprint of southwestern Finland waste management Lounais-Suomen Jätehuolto Oy (LSJH) (southwestern Finland waste management) is a company owned by 18 municipalities. It takes care of organizing the residents’ waste management and waste disposal on behalf of these municipalities. Approximately 440 000 inhabitants live in the company’s operating area. The biggest owners of LSJH are the city of Turku and the city of Salo.
The effects of the new waste law on the environmental impact and costs of waste management Puhas Oy is a waste management company, owned by five municipalities: Joensuu, Ilomantsi, Kontiolahti, Liperi, and Polvijärvi. On behalf of these municipalities, Puhas provides legally required waste management services. The catchment area of Puhas comprises approximately 112 000 inhabitants. The service network includes centrally tendered transport services for combustible waste and biowaste, local waste stations and the Kontiosuo waste center.
LCA and carbon footprint studies made it easier to set goals for the development of own operations Forcit is a Nordic operator with comprehensive knowledge about blasting, charging services and related environmental impact management, as well as Insensitive Munitions technology globally. FORCIT has been building its expertise since 1893 and the head office is located in Hanko.
Carbon footprint of Finnish National Opera and Ballet The Finnish National Opera and Ballet is a national art institution, offering opera and ballet performances and other events to audiences of all ages. With guest performances, school operas, recordings, and live streams as well as television and radio broadcasts, it delivers extraordinary experiences around Finland and the world. In terms of personnel, the FNOB is a medium-sized opera and ballet company.
Carbon footprint calculation for Tuupala wood school Tuupala wood school is the first school in Finland built using the solid wood element technology. It was built in Kuhmo in 2018 using the CLT element and gluelam technology. In the construction phase Healthy House criteria were used and the building was made in weather shelter. Tuupala day-care center has 60 pre-schoolers and grades 1-6 have 350 students.