Stockholm university
Stockholm University Center for Circular and Sustainable Systems

From Polymer Chemistry to Forest-Based Bioeconomy: A Journey Towards Sustainable Circular Economy

Linnea Cederholms, Post Doc Department of Environmental Science, research explores how materials chemistry, regulatory science, and sustainability can drive the forest-based bioeconomy. Shifting focus from technological development to socio-ecological and policy aspects, she uncovers both the challenges and opportunities in this interdisciplinary field.

Linnea Cederholm, Post Doc Department of Environmental Science. Photo: private.

What is your project about?
"My research focuses on the forest-based bioeconomy. I study the development within the sector, by cross-fertilizing materials chemistry, regulatory science and sustainability science. The purpose of the project is to investigate the potential of forest-based materials in the realization of a sustainable circular economy, and aims at assessing challenges, opportunities, synergies and goal conflicts that emerge in light of this development."

What is exciting about this project?
"I get to learn so many new things! My background is in polymer chemistry, so it’s been quite a big shift in terms of both research area and the methods I apply. This has of course been challenging, but fun."

What were the expectations before starting and how did it evolve during the last year of ongoing work?
"Coming from a background of engineering and polymer chemistry, I expected my research focus to be quite a lot on the technological development. Though, quite early on in the project I realized how my interest in the socio-ecological and regulatory/policy aspects grew stronger. Now, I would say, my research has shifted to focus on theses aspects, while my chemical and technological background knowledge helps me to navigate in the system and is valuable in the interaction with industrial actors."
 
What are the challenges when you are responsible for an interdisciplinary project?
"To shift focus between several perspectives and analyze their interactions is challenging. Communication is also a big challenge, but crucial. My role in this project is become the node between three different disciplines, which works best if I am able to speak, or at least understand, the languages of all three."

What SUCCeSS can do more to improve the connection between academia and society?
"I believe the SUCCeSS webinars is a nice opportunity to interact more with the society.  However, some presentations tend to be quite “academic”, making them difficult access for the general public."

Theme
Climate and Environment - Theme page Sustainable Chemistry - Theme page Chemistry - Theme page

Last updated: October 21, 2024

Source: SUCCeSS

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