The good guys in Finland claim they are ahead of the UK and most of the world when it comes to the environmental crisis. I wanted to know more, so I packed my bags and headed to Helsinki to ask some tough questions.i met Politicians, business leaders and the public Find out what environmental action is actually taking place. Here are the top eight things that impressed me.
- Helsinki is sending a wooden satellite into space
Yes. You read that right. Wooden satellite. WISA Woodsat is a nanosatellite designed and built by UPM, a company that designs technologies that use little or no fossil fuels. The world’s first wooden satellite will launch this year. It is made of birch plywood and is able to withstand the high and low temperatures of its tracks. It weighs only 1kg on earth and measures 10cm x 10cm x 10cm.
- Taxes are high and Finns don’t mind
Finland has a generous welfare state. A large amount of taxation is used to improve public facilities. As a result, the quality of life improves significantly, which explains why Finns don’t mind paying extra taxes. The Helsinki Central Library Oodi, designed by ALA Architects, is a public library that offers a variety of facilities. From sewing machines to 3D printers, from computer game rooms to mentioning no homelessness, and maybe some statistics. These taxes also fund progressive environmental policies.
- Clothes are made from cotton made from used clothing fibers
A new bio-based textile company called Infinited Fiber is using old clothes and materials that would otherwise end up in landfills to recreate new clothes by capturing their value at the polymer level. The biotech company, founded in 2016, has already gained a strong following, including Game of Thrones actress Maisie Williams, who features a piece she co-designed with a 100% “infinite fiber” material. model.
- You can use bathroom utensils made of wood that is stronger than ceramic
Woodio is an eco-design brand that uses the world’s first 100% waterproof solid wood composite. Their products are made from wood chips and high-grade resins. Although the resin has a small carbon footprint, the company is actively developing new resins that can be made from cellulose, which is characteristic of wood. Woodio offers products in a variety of natural shades, including bathtubs, toilets, washbasins and other accessories.
