The use of by-products, such as manure, sludge, grass biomass and logging residues, in agriculture and forestry has long held potential. However, challenges related to profitability, logistics and the fragmented availability of materials frequently limit translating this potential into marketable products. Individual farmers and foresters often produce these by-products in small or seasonal quantities, making it difficult to find consistent or nearby buyers. As a result, many valuable resources remain underutilised.

KiertoaSuomesta.fi was developed to address these challenges. It is a digital marketplace designed to facilitate the exchange of biobased side streams from forestry and agriculture. The platform connects those who produce the waste and residues with potential buyers, offering a more efficient and transparent trading environment.

Originally established in an earlier phase, the platform was redeveloped under the Horizon Europe TREASoURcE project and relaunched in 2023. Since then, it has continued to grow in both functionality and the number of active users.

The increasing number of regular users, currently around 2000 annually, strengthens the value of the platform, creating a broader and more dynamic network of participants. KiertoaSuomesta.fi contributes to the circular economy by enabling the transformation of waste or unused biomass into marketable, useful materials. This supports the development of more sustainable business models and can enhance the economic resilience of rural communities.

To ensure a smooth and secure trading process, the platform requires users to register with a company ID. Registration is necessary to advertise or access the contact details of others. Once registered, users can create posts to either sell (e.g. farmers or forest owners) or purchase, for example, forest by-products such as logging residues, bark and sawdust. The process involves selecting a category, naming the material, indicating the quantity and specifying whether the offer is continuous or one-off. Users can set an expiry date for the post or allow it to remain active indefinitely. The inclusion of detailed descriptions, pricing and images is encouraged, as these elements help attract interest and promote more effective transactions. Prospective biomass buyers can explore the site using the filters in the browser or the map view to find the residues that fit their requirements.

The actual exchange of materials occurs outside the platform. The contact details provided within the service enable parties to communicate directly and agree on terms that are mutually suitable.

In the future, the goal is to add a logistics module to the marketplace, addressing a major bottleneck in the utilisation of side streams. This module will allow logistics entrepreneurs to easily join the platform, making their services easily searchable and accessible.

Through its accessible interface and clear process, KiertoaSuomesta.fi offers a practical solution to the previously complex issue of side-stream utilisation. By making it easier to find and trade these materials, the platform helps bring circular economy principles into everyday agricultural and forestry practices.