Designs for a Cooler Planet
Discover tomorrow at Aalto University's biggest exhibition! Open 1 September – 30 October 2026.
From waste comes something better
Works by Aaltonians show how good the circular economy can look and feel.
The material footprint of an EU citizen — the amount of raw materials sourced from nature that they consume — averages 14.8 tonnes per year. This figure is clearly above the global average and unsustainable in terms of the planet’s carrying capacity.
The circular economy is an effective way to reduce this footprint, yet only a little over one tenth of the materials used come from recycled sources. The EU’s goal is to double this share by 2030.
Materials destined for waste can, in the right hands, be given an entirely new purpose: seaweed becomes eyeglass frames, agricultural waste becomes textile dyes, and old textiles become insulation material.
‘In a circular economy, waste is a valuable raw material, and longevity is valuable. That is why we must design and produce high-quality goods,’ summarizes Professor of Design Kirsi Niinimäki.
Find this and dozens of other fresh perspectives, bold experiments and practical solutions in the autumn exhibition.
