Circular ecosystem development

New value from side streams at Kemi Mine

Outokumpu and its partners are building a data‑driven circular economy ecosystem at the Kemi mine, turning mining side streams into new materials and business opportunities.

Kemi Mine aims to sets a European benchmark for circular mining through side stream utilization

Outokumpu's Kemi mine launched an extensive circular economy ecosystem – aiming for the first European model for utilizing mine side streams

Outokumpu's Kemi mine, together with the EU-funded Lapland Mining Hub project and Digipolis in Kemi, has launced a data-driven circular economy ecosystem that aims to transform the mine's side streams from waste to recovery, while reducing the use of virgin raw materials. The aim of the project, led by the Regional Council of Lapland, is to strengthen the pioneering role of the mining industry in Lapland and to support mining operators in a vision in which a significant part of mine side streams could be utilized as raw material for new products and solutions.

The project will produce transparent mining data on the quantity, quality and suitability of various side streams for the use of new potential partners. The project is based on strategic cooperation with the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, forming the scientific, technological, and international foundation of the ecosystem. Similar business-driven and data-based circular economy operating models focusing on mine side streams have not been implemented in Finland before.

The ecosystem is looking for both domestic and international operators, especially in the fields of technology, processing and material solutions. Local value creation and jobs are at the core. Especially for the year 2026, expertise is sought primarily from Nordic operators who benefit from the proximity of Kemi, but expertise is also sought outside Finland's borders. 

Meet the partners building the Kemi Mine circular economy ecosystem 

Outokumpu

Outokumpu's vision is to be a pioneer in materials and technologies that create tomorrow. As a global leader in sustainable stainless steel, we are accelerating the clean transition and leading the development of low-carbon metals and solutions in the stainless steel value chain – and beyond.

Outokumpu's mills are located in Finland, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United States and Mexico, and our Kemi mine is the only chromium mine in the EU.

Lapland Mining Hub

Lapland Mining Hub is a development project administered by the Regional Council of Lapland and funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Laplad Mining Hub aims to strengthen Lapland's mining ecosystem and increase research, development and innovation activities based on the needs of companies. The project brings together companies, research and education organisations and public actors to develop new solutions for the value chain of the extractive sector and to promote Lapland's position as a pioneer in the responsible extractive sector.

Read more about Lapland Mining Hub

Digipolis

Kemin Digipolis Oy is a business and development company owned by the City of Kemi that promotes industrial renewal, investments and sustainable business. Digipolis serves as a platform for cooperation between companies, research organisations and the public sector, and coordinates several national and international development projects, especially in the construction of the industrial circular economy, the green transition and new industrial ecosystems.

Read more about Digipolis Circular Economy Centre

VTT & GTK

VTT is a research and innovation partner for companies and society owned by the Finnish state. As one of Europe’s leading research organizations, VTT advances the utilization and commercialization of research and technology in commerce and society.

The Geological Survey of Finland is an expert in geological resources producing impartial research and services in support of decision-making in industry, academia, and wider society to accelerate the transition to sustainable and carbon-neutral world.

Upcoming events

During April 2026, we will organize the first online kick-off event, where companies interested in the project will be presented with the goals of the project and opportunities to participate in co-creation. More detailed information about the event will be published on this website soon.

In addition, we will host a live event at the Kemi Mine in June 2026 to develop and propose bold, forward-looking solution concepts. The live event also presents an opportunity to connect with forward-looking organizations interested in circular economy and industrial collaboration.

Online kick-off event

Tuesday April 21, 2026
at 15 - 16.15 pm

- Discover the Kemi mine’s key side streams and their potential as resources for new products, services, and value chains.

- Learn how companies can participate in co-development and future pilot testing.

- Explore an open collaboration model.

- Hear from the project partners and understand the roles and next steps.

The event language is Finnish.

Register

Live event at Outokumpu Kemi Mine

Tuesday June 2, 2026
at 8.30 am - 16.30 pm

- Introduction to Outokumpu’s circular economy approach.

- In-depth overview of Kemi Mine side streams and their business potential.

- Q&A and discussion with experts.

- On-site visit to explore side streams.

- Pre-booked one-to-one meetings with Outokumpu team members to present ideas and discuss collaboration.

Networking and lunch included. The event language is Finnish.

Register

Unlocking Kemi Mine side streams: Transparent mining data for circular and low‑carbon applications

The project will produce transparent mining data on the quantity, quality, and suitability of various side streams for the use of potential new partners. The production of the Kemi mine generates nearly 3 million tonnes of waste rock and tailings annually, of which waste rock is utilized in the mining area and outside of it. The mine currently has huge side stream potential to be used in the future for a number of new innovative applications, such as soil improvement materials, low-carbon cement replacement, carbon sequestration, heat storage for sand accumulators or mineral recovery.

Current use cases for granite

Currently granite derived from the side streams is used as track ballast and in asphalt production.

Current use cases for mixed rock material include:

Mine backfilling, dam structures, road and base course structures, and it's also used in the support of open pits.

Possible use cases for mixed rock material include:

Soil amendment materials, low-carbon cement replacement, carbon sequestration, thermal energy storage in sand batteries or mineral recovery. Many of these applications could also be applicable to tailings sand.
Granite
Metaperidotite
Serpentinite
Talc-carbonate rock
Chlorite schist
Diabase

How to share an idea & join the ecosystem?

The ecosystem is looking for both domestic and international operators, especially in the fields of technology, processing and material solutions. Local value creation and jobs are at the core, but expertise is also sought outside Finland's borders – for 2026, primarily from Nordic operators who benefit from the proximity of Kemi.

Contacts

Business partner contacts

Janne Rautio
+358 40 196 1114
janne.rautio(at)digipolis.fi
 

Interested stakeholders

Ida Paaso
+358 40 481 9302
ida.paaso(at)lapinliitto.fi

VTT

Hannu Lepomäki
Senior Advisor
+358 40 768 3972
hannu.lepomaki(at)vtt.fi

GTK

Hannu Lahtinen

Director, Availability of Raw Materials
+358 29 503 5260
hannu.lahtinen(at)gtk.fi

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