S22 - Session O4 - Responsible Color: Cultural, environmental, and ethical sustainability - Keynote: Networking in biocolour research – creating increasing value and impact

Authors: Riikka Räisänen *

Biocolourants have gained increasing interest among industries. Research of colourants, their characteristics and production procedures are expanding. At the same time, consumers are more aware of the environmental and health concerns of products and their ingredients, colourants being one of those. There is a growing demand for more information about new biodegradable materials as well as material properties, which have an impact on how they are used and recycled. In Finland, we started BioColour research project in 2019. The aim of the project is to develop extraction and purification methods for naturally obtained and bioprocessed colorful compounds, examine their properties in different conditions, and when applied to various materials. We also study the cultural and societal frameworks that are needed for successful implementation of biocolourants into consumer products. The aim is to enhance sustainable choices and decisions in society and policy. The refinery of natural colourants into objects is a complex and many stages including process. Different stages require knowledge and skills to create high quality outcomes. It is not enough that we produce the colourant, nor that we design an object. But, we need to make many decisions in between, from choosing the matrix to the application method of the colourant to finishing of the product, and even marketing it to the consumer. This presentation explains the stakeholders, i.e. scientific audiences, educators, artists and designers, businesses, authorities, policy-makers and consumers, of the BioColour research project and the networking and interaction that takes place during the project. As a result, it brings about the value and impact of the stakeholder co-creation and interaction work. Through co-creation, researchers and stakeholders share experiences and develop new knowledge of biocolour innovations, methodological improvements as well as build and improve their capacity for creating new business and fostering sustainable lifestyles.