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Development and Piloting of Sustainability Assessment Metrics for Arctic Process Industry in Finland—The Biorefinery Investment and Slag Processing Service Cases

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  • Roope Husgafvel

    (Clean Technologies Research Group, Department of Bioproducts and -systems, School of Chemical Technology, Aalto University, Espoo 00076 AALTO, Finland)

  • Kari Poikela

    (Digipolis-Kemi Technology Park, Cluster of Arctic Industry and Circular Economy in Lapland, Kemin 94600, Finland)

  • Juha Honkatukia

    (VTT Technical Research Center of Finland, Espoo 02150, Finland)

  • Olli Dahl

    (Clean Technologies Research Group, Department of Bioproducts and -systems, School of Chemical Technology, Aalto University, Espoo 00076 AALTO, Finland)

Abstract

Regionally, there has been a lot of focus on the advancement of sustainable arctic industry and circular economy activities within process industry in the Finnish Lapland. In this study, collaboration between university and industry was established facilitated by regional development actors to develop and pilot test a sustainability assessment approach taking into account previous work in this field. The industry partners in this study were a biorefinery investment in the first case and a slag processing service in the second case. As a result of the joint efforts, novel sets of environmental and economic sustainability assessment indicators and associated sub-indicators were developed and the existing set of social indicators was updated. Moreover, environmental and social sustainability assessments were implemented in the biorefinery case accompanied by a separate evaluation of regional economic impacts. In the slag processing case, environmental, economic and social sustainability were assessed. The results of the sustainability assessments indicated very good level of overall performance in both cases. However, specific elements that contributed to lower level of performance included lack of specific sustainability management and reporting approaches and need for better performance in supply chain sustainability, monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions, life cycle thinking and circular economy training. The expected effects of the planned investment on the regional economy were very positive based on the results of the evaluation.

Suggested Citation

  • Roope Husgafvel & Kari Poikela & Juha Honkatukia & Olli Dahl, 2017. "Development and Piloting of Sustainability Assessment Metrics for Arctic Process Industry in Finland—The Biorefinery Investment and Slag Processing Service Cases," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:10:p:1693-:d:112856
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Honkatukia, Juha, 2013. "The VATTAGE Regional Model VERM - A Dynamic, Regional, Applied General Equilibrium Model of the Finn," Research Reports 171, VATT Institute for Economic Research.
    2. Parajuli, Ranjan & Dalgaard, Tommy & Jørgensen, Uffe & Adamsen, Anders Peter S. & Knudsen, Marie Trydeman & Birkved, Morten & Gylling, Morten & Schjørring, Jan Kofod, 2015. "Biorefining in the prevailing energy and materials crisis: a review of sustainable pathways for biorefinery value chains and sustainability assessment methodologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 244-263.
    3. de Vet, Jan Maarten & Roy, Simon & Schneider, Hilmar & Thio, Vincent & van Bork, Gerbrandt, 2010. "Review of Methodologies Applied for the Assessment of Employment and Social Impacts," IZA Research Reports 28, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Evans, Annette & Strezov, Vladimir & Evans, Tim J., 2009. "Assessment of sustainability indicators for renewable energy technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(5), pages 1082-1088, June.
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    1. Roope Husgafvel, 2021. "Exploring Social Sustainability Handprint—Part 1: Handprint and Life Cycle Thinking and Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-36, October.
    2. Dayvid Souza Santos & Tito Francisco Ianda & Priscila Pereira Suzart Carvalho & Pedro Luiz Teixeira Camargo & Fárlei Cosme Gomes Santos & Carlos Ariel Cardona Alzate & Fernando Luiz Pellegrini Pessoa , 2024. "Multi-purpose biorefineries and their social impacts: a systematic literature review," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(5), pages 10865-10925, May.
    3. Roope Husgafvel, 2021. "Exploring Social Sustainability Handprint—Part 2: Sustainable Development and Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-35, October.
    4. Nirvana Angela Marting Vidaurre & Ricardo Vargas-Carpintero & Moritz Wagner & Jan Lask & Iris Lewandowski, 2020. "Social Aspects in the Assessment of Biobased Value Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-27, November.

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