A common belief is that increasing economic growth produces enough surplus to deal with arising adverse environmental impacts. The system, however, keeps alive only if sufficient resources are available and the economy has a sustainable foundation.
A circular economy aims to keep products, materials and other resources at their highest utility and value. It is a regenerative system that minimises waste and emissions by slowing down, closing and narrowing material and energy loops. The ultimate aim is to decouple economic growth from the consumption of finite natural resources. Ideally, the system in which resources are endlessly circulated into goods and services is waste-free and organised in a socially fair way.
In this master's programme, you will learn how to save resources in different situations by, for example, replacing goods with services, creating sharing economy-based solutions and extending product life cycles. You will also learn how to measure environmental and social impacts of different activities. The role of business is central in a circular economy, and you will also learn about the dynamics of sustainable business models.
The programme is well suited for people already in the working world because its face-to-face contact instruction mainly consists of intensive periods. Studying in this programme involves some mandatory in-person attendance on the Lahti campus.
