Finland’s vehicle recycling system continues to attract international attention well beyond Europe. In early August, Kuusakoski hosted an international delegation at its Heinola facility to share perspectives on how circular practices, regulatory frameworks, and digital innovation are shaping the future of car recycling.
Among the visitors was Professor Sandra Goldmark of Columbia University, a prominent advocate for circularity. She was joined by Ilkka Räsänen, Senior Advisor at The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, and Juha Kenraali, CEO of Finnish Car Recycling Ltd. The group expressed particular interest in Finland’s vehicle recycling system, widely recognized for its environmental effectiveness and high recovery rates.
Digitalisation, Regulation and the DELV Platform
Discussions during the visit focused on shared global drivers: regulation, customer value, and digitalisation. A central theme was the DELV platform, a new digital system co-created by Finnish Car Recycling and Sitra to support Finland’s car recycling ecosystem. Kuusakoski was the first of the country’s four recycling operators to integrate its own digital platform with this national system, an achievement reflecting its longstanding role in the sector’s development.
Tuomas Haikka, CSO and Director of Public Affairs at Kuusakoski, said:
“We were the first company in Finland to invest in an industrial shredder back in 1972 – and even in Europe, there were only a few similar facilities at the time.”
Professor Goldmark, whose research in the United States focuses on sustainable design, reuse, and circular economy solutions, observed striking parallels between the challenges and opportunities in Europe and North America.
Investing in the Future of Vehicle Recycling
Kuusakoski remains committed to innovation and leadership in vehicle recycling.
“For example, we’ve invested in Finland’s first pre-treatment unit for electric and hybrid vehicles, and we’re continuously developing our operations to respond to new regulatory requirements. Our ambition is still to lead the renewal of the entire sector,” Haikka explained.
The visit also underscored the growing importance of ecodesign as a driver of circularity on both sides of the Atlantic, a key area of focus for the future of sustainable vehicle recycling.
Source www.kuusakoski.com
