At the TalTech conference 'Resources in Circulation', experts discussed how to add more value to resources in smarter ways and why Estonia should lead the way in the circular economy instead of falling behind.
sustainability
For the first time, Estonia has been rated a fully democratic country – but do we know how to use that freedom to listen to scientists and care for the planet, asks Mari Öö Sarv on the occasion of Earth Day.
At the Smart City Exchange Forum, hundreds of city visionaries gathered to discuss how data, artificial intelligence, and collaboration could transform cities in Estonia and Europe into human-centered and sustainable environments.
In the global push toward sustainability, one of the most promising yet underutilized natural resources is lignin. Traditionally regarded as a low-value byproduct of the pulp and paper industry, lignin is now at the forefront of innovative research aimed at transforming it into high-value products.
Denying human-induced climate change is like denying a solar eclipse by arguing that it is also dark at night. Erik Puura explains why climate change is a fact and how humanity has already successfully tackled an environmental crisis once before.
Battery technology needs more environmentally friendly solutions, as the graphite currently used in batteries burdens nature heavily. One eco-friendlier alternative is to replace graphite with carbon materials produced from carbon dioxide. The industrial doctorate, created in collaboration between chemist Mirjam-Kim Rääbis, TalTech, and UP Catalyst, contributes to the development of such materials.
The European Union’s new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) has sparked mixed reactions among entrepreneurs – is it a necessary tool promoting transparency and responsible management, or just another bureaucratic burden? Estonian business leaders and experts discussed this topic at the Economic Vision Conference organized by TalTech, focusing on the practical value, challenges, and opportunities of sustainability reporting.
The mountain-like oil shale ash heaps of Ida-Virumaa have long been a part of Estonia’s landscape, symbolizing both industrial heritage and environmental impact. But what if they hold a hidden treasure?
Researchers at TalTech, in collaboration with environmental services company Ragn-Sells, are developing innovative technologies to transform these waste materials into valuable resources, giving them a new purpose and sustainable future.
One ton of mobile phones contains more precious metals than one ton of ore. We need to turn our focus toward the circular economy.
Electric cars have made rapid progress over the past decade, but the European automotive industry is facing serious challenges. It may take a few more years before Europe rolls out its own affordable electric vehicles – but one day, we’ll all be driving electric cars anyway, writes Jüri Rute.