Digitalisation for the sustainable competitive advantage
The Regional Council of Päijät-Häme and LAB University of Applied Sciences organised the first CEI Boost regional dissemination event in Finland together with two other projects DIH 2.0 and Canemure. The event took place at the premises of LAB University of Applied Sciences in Lahti November 23rd 2023.
The event brought together digitalization and sustainable development, and in particular the circular economy, through interesting speeches and presentations. The CEI Boost project invited Lotta Toivonen from Sitra and Ossi Salo, founder of the netflea.com online shop and service, to speak at the event.
Lotta Toivonen's presentation focused on the opportunities and impacts of digitalisation in managing the sustainability crisis. The presentation provided perspectives on how digital solutions can help us reduce emissions, but also on how digital services should be built and used in a way that is also environmentally sustainable. Digitalisation has a dual role, with direct or indirect environmental benefits, but on the other hand, increased use grows also the need for energy. Therefore, users and consumers of digital services should be supported and guided towards sensible and appropriate digital consumption. Lotta Toivonen also highlighted some good examples. The Green ICT project coaches ICT companies in the Uusimaa region to develop climate-smart digital services and supports the private and public sector to make greener digital procurement (Green ICT project). As a good example, Lotta Toivonen also highlighted from the Finnish banking sector Nordea's sustainable digital services.
Another presentation produced by CEI Boost for the event introduced a new type of clothing and footwear resale service "Netflea.com", which focuses not only on a circular economy sales platform, but also on building the logistics of collecting and selling products in an environmentally sustainable and efficient way.
Other interesting business cases from different sectors were also showcased in the event, which culminated in a visit to a circular economy laboratory of LAB University of Applied Sciences.