The Materiaalitori web service simplifies waste management and reuse. Materiaalitori promotes circular economy by digitalising the way companies and other operators in the waste sector can seek and offer waste and side streams for reuse. Solita designed and implemented of the service together with the Ministry of the Environment and Motiva Oy, which is responsible for the further development of the system and user support.
A meeting place for advertising and purchasing recycled materials
Circular economy aims to maximise the value and usable life of materials. By using recycled materials, we can cut down on our use of natural resources. The objective is to promote circular economy and the reuse of material waste. The updating of the EU waste legislation in line with the new circular economy objectives also required changes to the Finnish waste management system. This gave rise to the idea of a new meeting place for advertising and purchasing recycled materials.
Creating new value
Together with the Ministry of the Environment and Motiva, we designed and implemented the unique Materiaalitori web service where operators in the waste sector can seek and offer recycled materials, side streams, and other related services free of charge.
With Materiaalitori, it is possible to consolidate the material streams generated in Finland more visibly into one place, allowing the emergence of new methods of reuse, and ultimately helping to increase the usage rates of recycled materials. The development of this type of marketplace for material reuse is the key to increasing the value of recycled materials.
By promoting circular economy, we can also contribute towards climate goals, boost self-sufficiency, and create new job opportunities.
First phase implemented in only four months
Solita implemented the first phase of the service in an exceptionally tight schedule of only four months of close collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment, Motiva, and the future users of the service. Materiaalitori was first implemented in April 2019, and the agile development of the solution continues today. Feedback is actively collected from users and used in further developing the system and designing new functionalities. The service employs modern data-secure cloud technologies and national services, such as the Suomi.fi authentication and map data.
Improved transparency
Materiaalitori brings together various operators from large companies producing industrial side streams to waste sector and side stream reuse operators, enabling the meeting of supply and demand. Additionally, the service can be used by municipalities to fulfil their statutory obligation to organise waste management services. Transparency has improved, as materials can be sought and advertised on a digital platform for free. There is plenty of supply and demand for various types of materials, including soil, textile waste, plastics, and even entire decommissioned production lines with all the related components.
“Materiaalitori is a great example of new opportunities that arise from listening to users and employing new technologies. The optimal utilisation of technology also requires a good understanding of user needs and how to speed up the adoption of new services and the changing of operating models,” says Account Director Teo Ahonen from Solita.
