Green Factory - towards carbon neutral production
GREEF
Project information
Project duration
-
Funded by
Multiple sources
Project funder
Funding amount
4 800 000 EUR
Project coordinator
Other university or unit
Contact information
Contact person
Researchers
Project description
The GREEF co-innovation project will help companies reduce the environmental impact of their operations and products, and accelerate them towards their low-carbon and export growth targets. The project covers a number of green industry themes that apply to each company. While companies focus on their most relevant themes, the GREEF research ecosystem increases the impact on the consortium and the industry as a whole.
The project combines industrial and scientific research in the best possible way.
The results provide best practices and models for:
- sustainable branding in the industrial market;
- energy efficient production control and supply chain;
- the suitability and environmental impact of metal AM methods as a manufacturing method.
The project will also create a calculator for estimating companies' carbon footprint. The emerging know-how enables better identification of the environmental impact of the manufacturing industry and significant changes in operations and products that improve sustainability and competitive advantage.
The GREEF co-innovation project involves Aalto University, University of Oulu, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, and six Finnish companies of different sizes: SEW Industrial Gears Oy, AGCO Power Oy, Proventia Oy, Ojala-Yhtymä Oy, Delva Oy, EQ System Scandinavia Oy and Componenta Oyj. Total budget of the project is about 4.8 MEUR, of which Business Finland support is about 2.5 MEUR.
WP 1 Green factory from branding perspective
Project group at Oulu Business School
- Saila Saraniemi, Professor, Project Leader
- Ilkka Ojansivu, Associate Professor, Project Manager
- Milka Väinämö, Doctoral Researcher
- Julia Autio, Doctoral Researcher
Oulu Business School researchers participating in the GREEF project are responsible for the work package 1: Green factory from branding perspective. The objective of this work package (WP) is to examine how to link environmentally sustainable manufacturing operations to the industrial branding of manufacturers in mature markets.
The industry is facing pressures from markets and policy-makers to develop their operations as more environmentally sustainable. However, it is not clear, how key stakeholders in the ecosystem (external i.e. customers, business partners, investors and internal such as employees) position themselves towards the issue.
This WP provides knowledge for 1) how branding can support sustainability-activities in industrial operations and 2) developing methods for effective sustainable industrial brand communications.
Expected results support manufacturers’ sustainable branding process (identification of values and vision, organising sustainable branding activities, including internal and external brand communications, follow-up methods and engagement) and strategic partnerships towards sustainable and credible, winning metal manufacturer in the ecosystem.