The IMPRES research programme (2019–2025), funded by the Strategic Research Council of Finland, has come to a close. BioColour has been proud to contribute to this multidisciplinary initiative, which aimed to replace the unsustainable material foundation of our society with innovative materials and services. The programme focused on promoting resource wisdom and managing systemic change across sectors.
As a final outcome, the programme has published a White Paper that outlines three strategic pathways toward more sustainable resource use. These pathways emphasize the importance of regulation, consumer behavior, new business models, and cross-sector collaboration. The analysis draws on research from the three IMPRES projects—BioColour, Finix, and ValueBioMat—which focused on biocolourants, textiles, and plastics, respectively.
The White Paper highlights that achieving a sustainable future requires breaking away from existing systems and building new, circular value chains. It calls for stronger policy measures, such as extended producer responsibility (EPR), and encourages companies to rethink their strategies. Consumers also play a key role, and their awareness and behavior must evolve alongside systemic changes. Researchers, in turn, act as catalysts for innovation and collaboration.
The launch event (in Finnish) is available on BioColour’s YouTube channel.
