Gather a holistic understanding of the sustainability concept
Connect sustainability to your research topic
Learn how to assess sustainability
A balanced mix of expert talks, workshops, and fun activities
5 ECTS (pre-reading + intensive course + learning diary + feedback session)
Price: 500€ (accommodation and meal package) including:
Bus transportation from Aalto University campus to Haikko Manor & Spa (August 12th) and back to the campus (August 16th)
4-night hotel accommodation in shared double rooms at Haikko Manor & Spa conference hotel including a daily spa visit
Breakfast, lunch & conference room coffee service are included. Breakfast is not provided on August 12th. Dinner is provided on August 12th and August 15th.
The course is targeted to doctoral students interested in sustainability aspects with background and studies on development of bio-based materials and products. There will be a focus on textiles and packaging related applications in the course program. Participants have been selected for the course.
Please find the program for each day below. Please note that small changes to the program are possible.
9:15 Gathering at Aalto University campus, in front of Vuorimiehentie 1, Espoo. Please be there at 9:15 sharp.
9:30-10:30 Bus transportation to Haikko Manor & Spa
10:30-11:15 Arrival at Haikko, luggage drop-off & coffee
11:15-12:00 Opening session: Luana Dessbesell, Michael Hummel, and Susanna Ahola
12:00-13:00 Why do we do research? Janne Laine, VP innovations, Aalto University
13:00-14:00 Lunch
14:00-15:00 Sustainability and Systems Thinking, Professor Mikko Jalas, Aalto University
15:00-16:00 Hotel check-in and coffee
16:00-16:30 Basic concepts of sustainability - Luana Dessbesell
16:30-17:00 Workshop kick-off: Introduction to case studies
17:00-19:00 Activities (spa, hike, gym, volleyball, football etc.)
19:00-21:00 Light dinner and get-together at the seafront sauna building
8:00-9:00 Breakfast
9:00-9:45 Examples of research impact - Professor Tapani Vuorinen, Aalto University
9:45-10:30 Innovation pathway - Kalle Riihinen, Nordic Bioproducts Group
10:30-10:45 Coffee or/and brain break
10:45-11:15 Sustainable textiles innovation - Professor Michael Hummel, Aalto University
11:15-12:00 Textile value chain and social LCA – Professor Kirsi Niinimäki, Aalto University
12:00-12:15 Coffee or brain break
12:15-13:00 Packaging value chain and product design - Professor Jouni Paltakari, Aalto University
13:00-14:00 Lunch
14:00-15:00 Techno-economic analysis of bioproducts- Professor Ronalds Gonzales, North Carolina State University, US
15:00-15:30 Workshop on the case studies(facilitators)
15:30-16:00 Coffee
16:00-18:00 Workshop on the case studies(facilitators)
18:00-19:30 Activities (spa, hike, gym, volleyball, football etc.)
Independent dinner
Time to reflect and write learning diary.
8:00-9:00 Breakfast
9:00-9:45 Circularity and business ecosystems – Professor Samuli Patala, Aalto University
9:45-10:00 Brain break
10:00-11:00 Climate and Environmental Regulation in the EU - Professor of Practice Matti Vainio, University of Helsinki
11:00-11:30 Coffee or/and brain break
11:30-13:00 LCA of bioproducts– Professor Ronalds Gonzales
13:00-14:00 Lunch
14:00-15:00 Workshop on the case studies (facilitators)
15-15:20: Coffee and activity
15:20-17:00 Workshop on the case studies (facilitators)
17:15 Trip to Porvoo by public transportation (or other activities)
Independent dinner
Time to reflect and write learning diary.
8:00-9:00 Breakfast
9:10-9:40 Guidelines for the group presentations - Luana Dessbesell
9:40-10:50 Workshop on the case studies(facilitators)
10:50-11:10 Coffee
11:10-13:00 Workshop on the case studies(facilitators)
13:00-14:00 Lunch
14:00-15:30 Group presentations and discussion I
15:30-16:00 Coffee
16:00-17:00 Group presentations and discussion II
17:00-18:50 Activity and/or time to reflect and write learning diary
18:50-19:00 Group photo
19:00-23:00 Joint dinner and party at Manor Cellar
8:30-9:30 Breakfast
9:30-10:00 Workshop - Ronalds Gonzales
10:00-10:30 Closing and feedback - Michael Hummel & Luana Dessbesell
10:30-11:30 Hotel check-out
11:30-12:30 Bus transportation back to Aalto University campus
Dr. Ronalds Gonzalez is an Associate professor, consultant & thought leader in sustainable fiber-based consumer goods. Dr. Gonzalez leads a dynamic research group (go.ncsu.edu/ConEcSus) that collaborates closely with both companies and federal agencies to accelerate the industrial adoption of emerging and disruptive sustainable technologies and materials. As part of his commitment to promoting sustainable practices, Dr. Gonzalez recently founded the Sustainable and Alternative Fibers Initiative (SAFI), a University-Industry research consortium supported by over 28 companies (go.ncsu.edu/SAFI).
Dr. Luana Dessbesell is an assistant professor and the head of the Sustainable Bioproducts Innovation research group at Aalto University. Her research group focuses on sustainable bioproducts innovation via translating research to commercialization, considering an interdisciplinary approach leveraging techno-economic, environmental and circularity indicators. Her background is in forest and chemical engineering with ten years' experience as a researcher and biorefinery technology due diligence specialist in Canada and Brazil. She supports her research team's objective of facilitating academia and industry design transformative technologies and business strategies considering bioeconomy opportunities and circular economy principles to achieve long-term competitiveness.
To achieve human wellbeing in planetary boundaries, we need new sustainable solutions to wisely use our natural resources. The Bioinnovation Center especially focuses on innovations in sustainable bio-based materials, with special focus on textiles and packaging.
