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• Waste management has evolved from 'throwaway' culture to the circular economy. • The evolution reflects humankind's relationship with natural resources. • The Vaasa region is the forerunner in Finland with its strategy and large investments. • In Finland and Vaasa, dumping of municipal waste has decreased to nearly negligible. • Reuse and energy recovery are the dominant within waste material management. This longitudinal case study analyses the development of the pioneering waste management (WM) system in the Vaasa region of Western Finland, since the late 1980s to the present. It reflects the general features of the evolving WM from the one-bag system and throwaway culture towards today's circular economy and product service systems. The Vaasa region is an excellent example of how WM has evolved in Finland, which also follows the main direction of travel in Europe. The main features have been: (1) closing of dumping sites, minimizing dumping of waste and concentrating dumping to well-organized and environmentally managed sites; (2) development of comprehensive source separation systems for reuse of materials and energy; (3) building of waste treatment systems, consisting of different technical solutions connected with reuse and energy generation solutions. This evolution has resulted in expanding regional collaboration, where large investments are integrated within larger areas and consortia. The share of reused materials has grown significantly and dumping has decreased to close to zero. The practices of the circular economy are emerging and partly established. In this evolution, praxis does not immediately follow after "a brilliant idea", but only after the societal structuring process, including paradigmatic changes in attitudes, social norms, policies and regulation, customer behaviour, economic structures, and separate and systemic technological solutions and value chains. This research can add value both in terms of knowledge and science, and in being a change agents more practically. In the future, a strategic shift from WM to material management, and from public service to feasible businesses will be the next steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scope of this research is to make quantitative estimates of the potential economic and employment impacts of renewable energy self-sufficiency. The study aims to make generalizations on a regional, or even national level, and to give directions for future research. This paper analyses direct monetary values and employment impacts in two regions, in a theoretical situation where all energy is produced by renewables from the respective region. Renewable energy, especially utilization of existing but presently unused resources, can play an important role in vitalizing regional economies, especially in rural areas. The money spent on fossil energy could be kept circulating in the regional economy. The amount spent on energy in the research areas was almost €4860 per capita per year, totalling more than €300 m annually. The existing data shows that there is the potential for self-sufficiency, or even surplus production. The results suggest that the regional economic impacts increase considerably if the region is self-sufficient in raw materials, including intermediates. On a larger scale, e.g., nationally, the loss of jobs in the fossil energy industry and the eventual variations within economies potentially based on renewable energy, will affect the overall impacts. There is at present insufficient scientific literature, knowledge or quantitative data for analysing these impacts thoroughly. This paper contributes to filling this gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The main purpose of this article is to consider macro level theories for understanding the urge for reform as well as the process of societal change both in general terms, and more specifically within the energy sector. The aim is also to consider the energy sector in a wider context and analyse its recent development as a potential part of this reform. The scope and logical framework of this article is the following: The state of the global environment is approaching a point where the whole of humankind is in danger. The article reviews and discusses humankind’s limits of existence and dialectics of the human–nature relationship by contrasting Malthusian and Boserupian theoretical views. This creates both practical and scientific needs. The long societal process of change is discussed according to the three-layer (3L) model of societal chance. The production of energy has traditionally been one of the core issues concerning the effect humankind has on the environment, and with regards to potential change related to it, reforming the energy sector is in a key position. This article reviews and discusses the way the already established renewal of the energy sector corresponds to the 3L model, and the diverse potentials of the anticipated further progress. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This article summarises the results from four studies on the potential of bioenergy, and one study on the economic feasibility of distributed renewable energy production, in Ostrobothnia, Finland. The scope of the studies was to explore the degree of energy self-sufficiency that could be achieved, and the economic implications and benefits. The results suggest that a great majority of rural areas have the potential for being self-sufficient in their energy production through bioenergy alone, but other renewable energy sources (RES), including for example wind and solar power, will make an even greater contribution in the future. This applies to areas especially outside the largest population centres and most energy intensive industries. Indeed, in peripheral regions the renewable energy potential far exceeds the energy demand, and the spatial coverage of energy self-sufficiency is huge. Other European and global studies also show tremendous RES potential. The economics of small scale power generation units, here represented by biogas plants, are already feasible, despite the technology still being at an early developmental phase. Diffusion of these technologies depends on a number of factors, but single and separate units are emerging all the time. The adoption of RES based energy management systems will however be a long social process. The results give rise to an expectation for more RES based energy generation in Ostrobothnia and Finland and even in Europe and globally. In a time frame of 20–30 years, this development may result in structural changes across the whole energy sector. This comprehensive movement can only be understood and supported by multi- and cross-scientific approaches, and it will in future be a challenge for forthcoming research. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This special volume originates from the International Conference on Innovation and Management held at University of Vaasa in Finland in 2014. Talks with the key note speaker and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Cleaner Production led to an idea to develop a special volume about innovative products and services according to the themes of the conference. Thus, the purpose of this special volume is to explore different viewpoints of how innovative products and services may support sustainable societal development. There are five thematic areas with papers that describe new advancements in different industries and organizations. The included papers cover relevant theoretical background and present case studies and practical results. This special volume shows that great progresses are being made in different thematic areas but also that there are so much more waiting to be done for sustainable societal development. This volume indicates that cross-disciplinary approach is truly needed to achieve societal sustainable development. This requires people to change their mindsets and genuinely co-operate towards better future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]