Aalto University: World Circular Economy Forum in Brussels Spotlights FinnCERES and Nordic Smart Textiles Research Project

The World Circular Economy Forum 2024 event is organised on 15–18 April 2024 at the SQUARE Brussels Meeting Centre in Brussels, Belgium. The event brings together business leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss current circular economy solutions.

Aalto University’s and VTT’s joint bioeconomy competence hub, FinnCERES, hosts an exhibition stand in the WCEF2024 expo area on 15–16 April, highlighting recent intriguing scientific and technological breakthroughs, such as biofoams and folded structures for protective packaging, sustainable coatings and glues from lignin, and biodegradable electronics.

The joint Nordic NordForsk booth features the Beyond e-Textiles project. This interdisciplinary research project develops sustainable textiles of tomorrow that respond to environmental stimuli by changing their shape, color, or other properties. The project involves Aalto University, University of Turku, University of Borås in Sweden, VIA University College in Denmark, and the Iceland University of the Arts. Assistant Professor Jaana Vapaavuori from Aalto presents prototypes of smart textiles from the research project.

The World Circular Economy Forum WCEF is a joint initiative of the Finnish government and Sitra. The forum’s scientific partner is the United Nations International Resource Panel (IRP), which provides science-based information on material use to decision-makers, similar to how the IPCC provides information on climate change.

The event is now being organised for the eighth time in collaboration with several other international partners.