Deeper into the rabbit hole

Just a quick word about a moment of revelation 'cause I just bumped into a blog on the web page of Lapland University of Applied Sciences. It was a short text about resource-wiseness with some good insight on the subject. You can go and read the full text here: 

https://www.lapinamk.fi/blogs/Resurssiviisas-paasee-vahemmalla/0q5cunco/81218ce8-8503-40a3-9ad6-eff930dbc4aa?fbclid=IwAR0p41J5VSzBRo-XP_XdzcgXcp1elUUuCEtk3c4Zjvg2jsnC7OGjLZjn6C8

They use a definition that states that a resource-wise way is not only trying to use resources more efficiently but using them in a very planned and sustainable way and in a manner that saves resources. Resources, according to Sitra, among other things are energy, products, natural resources, time, knowledge and raw materials. When the range is this wide, it's starting to become more clear that the ways of being resource-wise are many.

Kuva: Pexels, Quang Nguyen Vinh 26.01.2022

Through this blog I ended up visiting Sitras webpage and learned about their project with three cities, Forssa, Lappeenranta and Turku, that took upon themselves to be pioneers in resource-wise planning back in 2015. As a product of this project each city gained a roadmap showing a way to become resource-wise in the fields of energy, infrastructure, consumption, food production and water resources. All these cities are working towards becoming carbon neutral by the end of 2050. You can learn more about this project through this link: https://www.sitra.fi/artikkelit/yhteinen-nakemys-kestavasta-tulevaisuudesta-nain-tiekartta-tukee-edellakavijakaupunkien/

And when diving even deeper, I learned that circular economy can be used as a tool for resource-wise actions. So these two concepts are not the same thing at all but the latter is rather a means to an end in this relationship. Other tools, or means to an end, are for example life cycle planning, (raw) material efficiency and making positive changes such as using renewable energy. All these tools can be divided into smaller pieces when wanting to go down to the concrete actions. 

This address https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L64YODF_gAU takes you to see a short video from Turku sharing their feelings on their journey towards carbon-neutrality and finding resource-wise solutions.

Kuva: Pexels Matheus Bertelli, 26.01.2022

https://www.lapinamk.fi/blogs/Resurssiviisas-paasee-vahemmalla/0q5cunco/81218ce8-8503-40a3-9ad6-eff930dbc4aa?fbclid=IwAR0p41J5VSzBRo-XP_XdzcgXcp1elUUuCEtk3c4Zjvg2jsnC7OGjLZjn6C8

https://www.sitra.fi/artikkelit/yhteinen-nakemys-kestavasta-tulevaisuudesta-nain-tiekartta-tukee-edellakavijakaupunkien/

Carbon neutral Finland by Kati Berninger

Hiilineutraali Suomi (Carbon neutral Finland), a book by Kati Berninger (Gaudeamus, 2012) describes the means and problems of building a carbon-neutral society and presents positive solutions to them.

She writes about the concept of carbon neutral society and country but getting there involves us all: consumers and businesses. On my mind map I´ve listed some of the possible challenges there might be. Investments and the fact that the change takes time are, in my opinion, the obvious challenges. Contributing to the idea of a carbon neutral society requires changes for example in the production and usage of electricity, heating, and water. Energy effectiveness can be achieved for example through switching to use renewable energy, making sure logistics is operating as green as possible and paying attention to the right kind of packaging of the goods.

Berninger writes that cities and towns may have energy effectiveness agreements and businesses should join these agreements by first ordering an energy review. The review will find out about the current situation of the company’s energy usage and present ways to go ahead with becoming more responsible and cut the costs. These changes equal investments and this may be a stumbling block to many companies. However, the investments will pay off eventually in lower costs and decrease in emissions. Berninger also says that in 2009 the greenhouse gasses were mostly produced by the industrial energy use and emissions from traffic.

There are different ways to force businesses to become greener: higher taxes for using non-renewable energy, benefit packages for green investments etc. These different ways of pressuring and persuading the businesses to “do the right thing”might very much the motive for some companies.

Berninger suggests that renewable energy sources are solar energy, wind power, bioenergy,

hydropower and eco-energy. Other ways to cut emissions are using public transport instead of driving, cycling, packing the goods effectively, joining forces with other businesses by building a joint logistics network for more efficient operations. Not more than 10 years ago we were talking about changing regular bulbs to LEDs but nowadays that is more a norm than exception. It’s comforting to look back and see that we are moving in the right direction one step at a time, slowly but surely.

But all this comes down to the costs. According to consumer surveys, consumers do want greener products and are willing to pay more for them but at the same time this is not possible for all. There are a lot of consumers that are forced to buy the cheapest thing available even if they would like to buy according to their values. If a company is considering the costs and calculating that the return time is something between 5-10 years, this might make them drop the whole plan. Costs are, in my opinion, the biggest threat for the company deciding to make or not to make the investments.

Berninger, K. 2012. Hiilineutraali Suomi - Miten luodaan ilmastoystävällinen yhteiskunta. Helsinki: Gaudeamus.

Visual learner

Like many others, I am one to learn using visual aids. I also tend to scribble while sitting in an auditorium listening to a lecture or a presentation. It makes it easier for me to perceive and understand bigger concepts and connections between things if I just draw them or write them down. Mind maps have always been very helpful. Maybe I'm not very good with them but if they help me, they are good enough. 😁

Now that I see my mind map, it's painfully obvious how little I know of the subject at hand. I'm really curious to see how deep this rabbit hole is. I didn't even consider doing a mind map over transformative learning because.. well, I think you can guess why, after having read my two previous posts. Neither is it my intention to make one during or after this process.

Zero state - when there was nothing

Kuva Pexels Mathias P.R. Reding 17.02.2022

Zero state: talk about the subject without finding out anything about it. Write down what you think you know and expand your knowledge as the process goes on. Hmm.. so about corporate responsibility and resource-wiseness but also the concept of transformative learning.

So here it goes. Zero state and the famous flow of thoughts. Today, sustainability plays, or it should play, a crucial part when planning production, procurement, maintenance and all the other fields of a working business and the whole society. Businesses of different sizes, cities, governments and countries are writing agreements on becoming greener and more sustainable in a given period of time. Many of the agreements are set in very near future which means that there should also be actions along with all the agreements and beautiful speeches. The goals are set high. With just 6 months of my studies and I have already become acquainted with Agenda 2030, the European Green Deal and programs like Carbon Neutral Finland 2035. For me, it has been and eye-opening experience to learn how much there is already being done and how many plans there are waiting to be executed. 

Doing business in a responsible and resource-wice way, I think, means you need to consider sustainability in all actions: production, usage, logistics, packing, storage, disposal, reuseability, procurement and all the other parts of the process I forgot here. The challenges this persuit may bring are for example:

• possible investments in new machinery, equipment, spaces etc.
• finding new ways to operate in all the mentioned fields
• training the staff
• serious networking might be necessary and for some completely new thing
• financing all the changes once you know what the changes are
• lack of willpower once you realize that the prize is not "just around the corner"

In the long run, however, I think it will pay off. The benefits may include:

• more efficient use of materials: reusing the "waste" or selling to someone else to be used as a raw material in their production
• savings in more efficient and well-planned logistics and packing of goods
• saving through strong networks and joint forces

Kuva Pexels Jean van der Meulen 17.02.2022

When it comes to transformative learning, my knowledge is absolute zero. I heard what the teachers told us about it during inhale 1 but it was so out there that I just couldn't comprehend it... At all. I guess it will come more clear on the way. Fingers crossed!

About the portfolio

For me, a portfolio as a learning tool is something completely new. I searched 'portfolio' on line and found a page that explains about tools and methods for learning and self evaluating. Here is the address:  

http://www02.oph.fi/asiakkaat/itsearviointi/suomi/opetus/portfol.html#port 

It's still not very clear to me but it says on the page that a portfolio can for example be an expression of different processes and methods, and that it can appear in many forms. I'm guessing there may be as many layouts as there are people making portfolios. Huh, that's a relief. I chose this way, a blog, because I've written a blog before and I'm somewhat comfortable with it. Oh yeah, and it's in English simply because I love the language. 

The function of this portfolio is to follow my path in self development and learning on the subject of responsible sustainability, mainly corporate responsibility and resource-wiseness. It is born as a product for a course (Corporate responsibility and resource-wiseness) I'm currently attending at Lapland University of Applied Sciences but will probably live on even after the course. This is a place for me to contemplate my learning process.

The objective of the course on an individual level is that afterwards: 'the student is familiar with the principles of the green economy and the ways of operating responsibly and resource-wisely. Student is able to tell about different ways to promote climate neutrality in business, and knows how to apply responsible and resource-wise business development methods in business.'

In addition to this, the course intends to introduce the method of transformative learning. To this end, we are divided into small groups and the course is implemented in four sections called 'inhale'. Transformative learning is also new to me so this should be interesting.

The key word here is process. It is not about the beginning or the end, only the journey matters here. 'Trust the process.'

Kuva Pexels Andrea Piacquadio 17.02.2022