Peat and Innovations – Creative Reuse Opportunities in Central Finland

The aim of the project is to explore the potential for economic growth in the cultural, tourism and leisure sectors in areas of Central Finland that are being decommissioned from peat production. The project will identify and innovate new business activities together with peat entrepreneurs and cultural, tourism and leisure operators in the regions. It also aims to identify the potential for the further use of peat sites from a cultural, tourism and leisure perspective and to publish a report on the subject.

The project will start in February 2025 by mapping the current situation and growth potential of municipalities in Central Finland that are concentrated on peat production and by identifying local partners in the peat production sector and in the cultural, tourism and leisure sectors. Meetings with partners, visits to peat-producing areas and workshops to innovate new business activities will be organised during spring 2025. The results of the workshops will be piloted in summer 2025. At the end of the project in autumn 2025, a report on the results of the project will be published and a follow-up plan for a possible new project will be developed.

The need for the project is based on the just transition plan for Central Finland. The project aims to answer the economical and social impacts of the transition by innovating new business activities in peat producing municipalities. The innovations will be executed during a potential follow-up project.