Kirkkokallio Eco-Innovation Park shows the way for circular economy – a hub where research, industry, and the green transition meet
Located in Kankaanpää, the Kirkkokallio Eco-Industrial Park is one of Finland’s longest-standing circular economy clusters. Within the area, companies utilize side streams and waste heat from each other’s processes – creating a unique example of a circular economy ecosystem. The Kirkkokallio site is home to Honkajoki Ltd, a company that processes raw materials of animal origin, energy company Vatajankoski Ltd, greenhouse company Honkatarhat (aka Vihreä Keiju), food factory Naapurin Maalaiskana Ltd and Gasum Ltd’s biogas plant.
Today, Kirkkokallio serves as a development and research platform also through Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK). Together with local actors, it is driving the green transition forward. New initiatives may also act as a catalyst for attracting new operators to the eco-industrial park.
Research and Development Enhance Resource Wisdom
Kirkkokallio Eco-Innovation Park is part of the project Northern Satakunta on the Waves of the Green Transition, led by a team of experts in SAMK’s Resource Wisdom Research Area. The goal is to strengthen Kirkkokallio’s role as an eco-industrial park and to create new research openings. A strategy, an area plan, and communication materials have been prepared for the park. Currently, machine vision is being tested to identify and sort side streams arriving in the area.
A SAMK student also completed an internship in the project, producing technology-related reports on high-temperature heat pumps and mapping cold chain operators in Finland, particularly suppliers of industrial cooling.
– Kirkkokallio is a good example of how the green transition is not just talk – it is already happening in the everyday life of industry. Through RDI activities, we have the opportunity to bring new knowledge and solutions into this development, says Kati Alakoski, green transition specialist and author of the Kirkkokallio area plan.
Kirkkokallio Conference – A Day for Experts in Circular Economy and Sustainable Industry
On November 5th, the first-ever Kirkkokallio Conference will be held in Kankaanpää, continuing the project’s efforts in developing the site. The event provides an introduction to the Kirkkokallio circular economy concept and energy expertise, as well as keynote speeches from professionals in the circular economy and global business. The aim is to raise the profile of Kirkkokallio as part of the eco-industrial park network and the broader green transition. The Kirkkokallio Conference will be held in Finnish.
– With the conference, we want to highlight the long-standing work already carried out in Kirkkokallio – and at the same time create new networks that will take the area forward, Alakoski explains.
Regional Strength and Future Opportunities
Kirkkokallio’s strength lies in its long-term development work and collaboration between companies. The utilization of side streams, renewable energy, and the circulation of material flows form a foundation that can be continuously expanded with new innovations.
– We have built an area plan that considers both current actors and future growth. The goal is for Kirkkokallio to become an even stronger hub of circular economy in Northern Satakunta, says Alakoski.