The document outlines Finland's need for a natural resource strategy to help the country act strategically in relation to its natural resources. It discusses Finland's strong links to global material cycles and opportunities to gain competitive advantages through pioneering changes in resource use. The strategy's vision is for Finland to thrive and lead the way by 2030 through intelligently using natural resources in innovative, sustainable, and responsible ways. Its goals include developing a thriving bioeconomy that generates high value through business opportunities and innovations based on biomass conversion and biological processes.

1. A Natural Resource Strategy for Finland:
Using natural resources
intelligently
www.sitra.fi/naturalresources
Drawings: Annika Varjonen

2. NEED FOR THE STRATEGY
Interlinkages Intensified
between global
different competition
natural for raw
resources materials Great
Rapid changes
importance of
in natural
natural
resource
resources for
markets
Finland
Sectoral
Increasing
orientation of
international
actors and
importance of
expertise in
natural
natural
resource policy
resources
Growing use
of natural
resources, ?
together with
impacts
How can Finland act strategically, agilely and in a
forward position in relation to natural resources?
2

3. MATERIAL FLOWS
IN FINLAND 2005
(The material cycle includes flows of both
materials and energy)
Finland’s national
economy is strongly
linked to global
material cycles.
3
Source: ENVIMAT 2009, Finnish Environment Institute

4. BACKGROUND AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE STRATEGY
2007: Initiative
Luodin-pilot study
on developing dialogue and
expertise in natural resources
(Finnish Forest Association)
2008-09: Preparation
Preparation of a natural resource strategy
for Finland (Sitra)
2009 : Implementation
Strengthening the coordination of Steps to initiate
natural resource policies changes
(Government’s mid-term policy review, (actors throughout
24.2.2009) society)
4

5. THE STRATEGY WORK WAS
PARTICIPATED BROADLY
An open web-based tool
compiled respondents’
suggestions on which issues
the strategy should address,
Persons
interested and how.
An extensive network of
Network of experts was set up to assist
experts the strategy group through
seminars and information
transferred via the internet.
Wide-ranging collaboration
Strategy involving politicians,
group administrators, business
representatives, researchers,
organisations and the media
took place in all phases of
preparation.
5

6. PREPARATORY PROCESS OF
THE STRATEGY
6

7. MEMBERS OF THE STRATEGY GROUP
Hautojärvi Sirkka (Chairperson) Pokka Hannele, Ministry of Environment
Cronberg Tarja, Finnish National Commission on Portin Anders, Finnish Forest Industries Federation
Sustainable Development FNCSD Ritschkoff Anne-Christine, VTT Technical Research
Grundström Elina, Vihreä Lanka Center of Finland
Hakkarainen Ensio, Confederation of Finnish Rutanen Juha, Finnish Nature-based
Construction Industries RT Entrepreneurship Association
Hakovirta Marko, Metso Corporation Silpola Jaakko, Association of Finnish Peat Industry
Hornborg Michael, Central Union of Agricultural Stenborg Markku, Ministry of Finance
Producers and Forest Owners (MTK) Suuronen Petri, Finnish Game and Fisheries
Kahlos Jussi, Finnish Forest Association Research Institute
Kananen Ilkka, National Emergency Supply Taalas Petteri, Finnish Meteorological Institute
Agency Taiveaho Satu, Parliament of Finland
Kauppi Lea, Finnish Environment Institute Tiilikainen Kimmo, LFinnish Council for Natural
Kolehmainen Ilmo, Metsähallitus (State Forest Resources
Enterprise) Torvinen Laura, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Kuisma Juha, Finnish Museum of Agriculture Turpeinen Harri, Neste Oil Corporation
Kylä-Harakka-Ruonala Tellervo, Confederation of Vaittinen Jarmo, Ministry of Agriculture and
Finnish Industries EK Forestry
Lotvonen Esko, Regional Council of Lapland Virtanen Erkki, Ministry of Employment and the
Matikainen-Kallström Marjo, Parliament of Economy
Finland Vornamo Hannu, Chemical Industry Federation of
Nurmi Pekka, Geological Survey of Finland Finland
Nurmi Piia, Turku School of Economics, Finland Wallin Jyrki, Finnish Association of Academic
Futures Research Centre, Centre for Responsible Agronomists
Business Yrjö-Koskinen Eero, Finnish Association for Nature
Nyberg Frankenhaeuser Annika, Finland's Conservation
National Public Service Broadcasting Company Österlund Henrik, Motiva
7
Project Director at Sitra: Eeva Hellström

8. NATURAL RESOURCES AS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR FINLAND
We are today living in a
transitional period, when
resources and knowledge need to
be combined in new ways to
improve controls over natural
resource use.
Finland has opportunities to
gain a competitive
advantage, enhance well-
being, and bear global
responsibility, by pioneering
such changes.
8

9. STRUCTURE OF THE
STRATEGY
The strategy’s long-term
vision and goals define the
direction for the overall
step-by-step process.
Areas for Steps
Strategic
Vision change towards
goals (4) (6) change (18)
9

10. Areas for Steps
Strategic goals
Vision (4)
change towards
(6) change (18)
A vision for 2030:
By using natural resources
intelligently, Finland thrives and
leads the way.
The concept of using resources intelligently relates to innovativeness,
sustainability and responsibility, which will all be vital for future success.
Natural resources can be utilised as a source of well-being and a basis for
sustainable economic activities that also safeguard the environment and its
biodiversity.
Leading the way relates to taking an exploratory and pioneering role in
international policy-making and business contexts.
10

11. Areas for Steps
Strategic goals
Vision (4)
change towards
(6) change (18)
Strategic goals :
1. Finland has a thriving bioeconomy
generating high added value.
” A bioeconomy for the new generation can
provide a wide range of business opportunities,
applying innovations based on the conversion of
different kinds of biomass into various fibres and
chemical compounds, and on innovations based
on biological processes..”
” The bioeconomy provides a wide range of
opportunities to utilise natural resources by
applying and reproducing biological processes in
sustainable ways.”
11

12. Areas for Steps
Strategic goals
Vision (4)
change towards
(6) change (18)
Strategic goals:
2. Finland utilises and
recycles material flows
effectively.
” The resources to be utilised by society
should be kept within the economic
system for long periods, so as to
maximise added value and minimise the
quantities of valuable materials that
permanently leave the economic
system.”
” The product planning phase is critical
for material use throughout product life
cycles.”
12

13. Areas for Steps
Strategic goals
Vision (4)
change towards
(6) change (18)
Strategic goals:
3. Regional resources generate
both national added value
and local well-being.
” Natural resources in rural areas
are both a considerable asset for
society, and an important basis for
industrial activities. Future success
will be based on our awareness of
the interlinkages between different
areas, and the ways their different
resources can be combined.”
13

14. Areas for Steps
Strategic goals
Vision (4)
change towards
(6) change (18)
Strategic goals:
4. Finland takes initiatives and leads
the way on natural resource
issues.
” By taking initiatives, Finland can
highlight the need for a global
natural resource policy and shared
responsibility.”
14

15. Areas for Steps
Strategic goals
Vision (4)
change towards
Areas for change: (6) change (18)
1. The bioeconomy
2. The material cycle
3. Regional resources
4. International cooperation
5. Administration and
regulation
6. Expertise and
communications
15

16. Areas for Steps
Strategic goals
Vision (4)
change towards
(6) change (18)
First steps towards change:
1. Bio-expertise and business 13. International natural resource
activities policies
2. Biorefineries 14. Strategies for specific natural
3. Enhancing controls over the resources
material cycle 15. Administrative work-sharing, co-
4. Product-centred resource efficiency operation and regulations
5. Restoring and closing cycles 16. Natural resource accounting and
economic incentives
6. Businesses’ resource efficiency
17. Forecasting and integrated
7. Services based on non-material expertise
natural resources
18. Training for decision-makers
8. Dispersed production models
9. Interaction between rural areas and
growth centres
10. Regional strategies
11. Exports of expertise on
environmental and natural resource
issues
12. International measures and rules 16

17. LEADING THE STRATEGY
The strategy’s vision
and goals can only be
achieved with the
help of a dynamic
leadership model,
where goal-setting,
implementation,
evaluation and
development work
are all seen as parts
of a single continuous
process.
17

18. The strategy is implemented
through selected steps
leading towards long-term
goals.
18

19. Government mid-
term policy review
24.2.2009
” Finland’s extensive renewable natural resources,
their sustainable exploitation and the development
of a state-of-the-art technology to harness these
resources all offer excellent potential for economic
recovery."
” Steps will be taken to strengthen the coordination
of the natural resources policy in order to make
Finland a leading nation in exploiting natural
resources and materials in an economical and
sustainable manner.” 19

20. INTELLIGENTLY WITH
NATURAL RESOURCES