The story behind Riihi

On traditional Finnish farms, very little went to waste. Resources were used carefully, and almost everything had a purpose. This resource-wise approach remains highly relevant to today’s circular economy. In South Ostrobothnia, Finland, primary production and processing industries account for a considerably larger share of employment than the national average. This regional heritage has shaped Riihi’s content and continues to guide its development.

Although the circular economy is a relatively new concept, its underlying principles are familiar: using resources wisely, keeping products and materials in use and retaining their value for as long as possible, and minimising waste from production and consumption. One person’s waste can be another person’s treasure.

The name Riihi comes from the agricultural traditions of South Ostrobothnia. A riihi was a traditional Finnish grain-drying barn where grain harvested from different fields was brought together under one roof. Valuable grain was carefully collected and dried, allowing it to be stored for long periods and used for future sowing. In many ways, the traditional riihi was already an example of resource efficiency, long before the concept of the circular economy existed.

Over time, the economy of South Ostrobothnia has diversified to include manufacturing and services. Nevertheless, resource-wise thinking remains an important part of the region’s business culture and entrepreneurship. The traditional idea of bringing valuable resources together and making the most of them has now been brought into the digital age. Just as harvested grain was once gathered under one roof, our Riihi platform brings together circular economy knowledge, expertise, practical solutions and opportunities for collaboration.

Riihi was originally developed as part of the CircEPOs – Circular Economy Knowledge Platform for South Ostrobothnia project, implemented by Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (SEAMK) and funded by the European Regional Development Fund. Since then, the platform’s content and activities have been further developed through SEAMK projects focusing on the circular economy and sustainable business development. Riihi has evolved from its original role as a circular economy knowledge platform into a broader resource supporting future-proof business development. Today, it brings together research-based knowledge, practical tools, business case studies and opportunities for collaboration.

Riihi is maintained by SEAMK experts in the circular economy and sustainable business development.

The English-language section of Riihi is being developed during 2026–2029 as part of the ReVisio – From Ecodesign to Circular Economy Competitive Advantages project(Opens in a new window).