Environmental Safety and Water Technology 2025
The Environmental Safety and Water Technology Research Group, located at Xamk’s Mikkeli campus, focuses on research, development, and innovation (RDI). The group promotes clean water systems, closed nutrient cycles, and helps transform regional water expertise into business opportunities. Applied research supporting environmental safety has been carried out at the Mikkeli campus for over 25 years.
We are your partner in environmental safety and water technology regionally, nationally and internationally.
Committed to Preserving Clean Water Systems
The group’s development goals and focus areas include clean technological solutions in bioeconomy, water management, and circular economy, as well as smart monitoring methods and risk management related to environmental safety and health. We also monitor the environmental status of communities and industries.
Strategic priorities in our research and development include monitoring natural waters and urban water systems such as surface water, stormwater, and wastewater, as well as improving nutrient flow management.
Together with companies and research institutions, Xamk develops and pilots new measurement and modeling methods and solutions for water and circular economy. Our goals include monitoring the impacts of climate change, preventing and anticipating risks, and strengthening expertise regionally, nationally, and internationally.
Our research is supported by Xamk’s Degree Programme in Environmental Technology, the environmental laboratory, and two demonstration environments – Vesikko and BioLuuppi – as well as the BEM network.
Explore our demonstration environments
The research group operates two demonstration environments located at the Metsäsairila sorting and recycling center in Mikkeli.
BioLuuppi – Circular Economy Pioneers
BioLuuppi – Circular Economy Pioneers
BioLuuppi offers a new opportunity to develop the operations of regional biogas plants. Best practices tested in the demonstration environment can be scaled up to full plant operations, improving efficiency and promoting the utilisation of regional material flows.
Learn more about our biogas research:
Applied research for the circular economy of organic materials | READ Xamk
Vesikko – Advancing Water Expertise
Vesikko – Advancing Water Expertise
Vesikko is a demonstration environment for the treatment of landfill leachate and stormwater, and for the development and testing of filtration materials.
Clean Technological Solutions for Bioeconomy, Circular Economy and Water Management
We promote closed material cycles in industrial and rural enterprises, sustainable water treatment, and the profitability of cleantech-related business.
Our focus includes circular economy applications and expertise development in biomaterials (side streams from forestry, agriculture, and municipalities), as well as in the energy and construction sectors.
Due to climate change, clean drinking water is becoming a scarce natural resource. One in three people globally live without access to safe drinking water. Improving the management of drinking and industrial water purification processes is increasingly important.
Our research group focuses on monitoring natural waters and urban water systems such as surface water, stormwater, and wastewater, and on enhancing nutrient flow treatment.
Together with our partners, we support South Savo’s smart specialisation strategy by creating sustainable value from water.
Managing Risks Related to Environmental Safety and Health
We promote environmental safety in businesses and agriculture and forestry, as well as environmental health in buildings and communities. We also develop smart integrated solutions and support low-carbon primary production.
Risk assessment and anticipation:
- Ecotoxicity testing can be used to assess the overall impact of harmful substances alongside chemical concentration analyses and ecological surveys.
- Ecotoxicity testing is also used to evaluate the safety of new product prototypes.
- Xamk’s environmental laboratory uses methods such as bioluminescent bacteria testing and growth experiments.
Monitoring the Environmental Status of Communities and Industries
We develop measurement, modeling, and monitoring solutions for water supply, emissions, environmental status, and environmental health.
Our applied research also focuses on monitoring and modeling environmental status and health, and on smart ICT systems that improve traceability of environmental data and support risk anticipation.
We utilise drone monitoring, 3D modeling, and computational analysis in our operations.
Explore our research and discover more
BioSavo – From the BioLuuppi Demonstration Environment to the world
AWE – Arctic Water Excellence
Kiertoisa – Circular economy for books and textiles in Savonlinna
Continuous learning service model for the needs of the sustainable and carbon-neutral manufacturing industry (OHITE)
Sustainable management of forests in Southern Savo – tools from research
DemoMelu – Biochar as a building material
Biogas utilization and applications on farms
Y-MAX – Maximizing the utilisation of the nutrient and energy potential of sewage sludge
Completed research and development projects
- CITYLOOPS – Closing the loop for urban material flows
- New Innovative Methods for Groundwater Quality Monitoring – Uumo
- Vemo – Reducing harmful wastewater substances by improving monitoring
- WaterPlus – New methods to promote water purity
Take a visual look into our research group’s work!
Explore our publications
Forest, the Environment and Energy – Applied Research and Product Development. Annual Publication 2024
The Forest, the Environment and Energy focus area’s 2024 annual publication presents current results from research, development, and innovation projects. The articles cover all key areas of expertise within the focus area and highlight the role of South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk) in strengthening regional vitality. The publication showcases the significance of Xamk’s multidisciplinary RDI activities, particularly in enhancing the vitality of South-Eastern Finland through knowledge and research.
Biovirtaa – Driven by biowaste
This publication compiles key results from the Biovirtaa project carried out between 2022–2025. The findings are useful for permanent and seasonal residents, municipalities, companies involved in organic material recycling, and other local stakeholders in the South Savo region.
The project aimed to promote nutrient recovery from municipal material flows and increase the regional volume of sorted and separately collected bio-waste. During the project, awareness of bio-waste sorting was raised among both permanent and holiday residents, and separate collection and circular economy practices were actively promoted.
Mekstiili – Efficient Textile Circular Economy in South Savo
This publication presents the actions and results of the Mekstiili project, which focused on developing cost-effective collection and sorting processes for discarded textiles and promoting diverse material utilisation. Fixed collection points were established in Mikkeli, and various pop-up collection events were piloted. Guidelines for textile sorting were created, and occupational safety was studied through hygienic measurements. Route planning and carbon footprint assessments were conducted to optimise logistics.
Creating a Virtual Energy Community
The project explored the feasibility and profitability of forming an energy community among farms. The report provides an overview of the concept and presents simulations and background data produced during the project. The results are applicable nationally and offer valuable insights for farmers considering energy-related investments. The report also supports decision-making for authorities and policymakers regarding legislation and energy community development.
Topical articles
Documentation of demolition materials is being developed using drone photography
Documentation of demolition materials is being developed using drone photography
South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences is developing new digital methods to enhance the circular economy of demolition sites. The use of drones and various camera technologies, together with 3D modeling, enables more efficient monitoring and documentation of material flows at demolition sites.
The energy community formed by farms and its effects on distribution network companies
The energy community formed by farms and its effects on distribution network companies
Promoting energy use and distributed energy production in rural areas is an essential step towards a sustainable future. The FarmEnergy – Farm Energy Community project aims to create opportunities and demonstrate the operation of rural energy communities.
Sorting experiments provide information on the composition of household waste
Sorting experiments provide information on the composition of household waste
Sorting municipal waste is of great importance for the circular economy.
Promoting the cleanliness of water bodies
Promoting the cleanliness of water bodies
Research, development and innovation work in environmental safety and water technology has been carried out on the Mikkeli campus for over 25 years, and water expertise has been shared in environmental technology education in Mikkeli for over 50 years.
Putting the latest research into practice – towards climate-smart forestry
Putting the latest research into practice – towards climate-smart forestry
Climate-smart forestry is about adapting to and mitigating climate change. New research findings are of great importance in order to be able to make the right decisions regarding forest management. Putting the latest research knowledge into practice plays a significant role when we practice sustainable and climate-smart forestry.
Applied research into the circular economy of organic materials
Applied research into the circular economy of organic materials
Xamk’s environmental safety and water technology research group has strong expertise in bioeconomy and biogas processes.
Monitoring of the water systems of South Savo
Monitoring of the water systems of South Savo
The South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences and the Finnish Environment Institute investigated the current state of South Savo’s waterways in terms of microplastics and pollutants in the local waters of ten different municipalities.
New concepts for utilising demolition waste
New concepts for utilising demolition waste
The Environmental Safety and Water Technology research group at Xamk’s Mikkeli campus promotes the circular economy of construction and demolition waste.
Textile circular economy players join forces
Textile circular economy players join forces
Textile circular economy actors sought answers to the challenges of the textile industry at a hybrid seminar held in Mikkeli. The event served as both a concrete tool for collaboration and a means of developing expertise.
Consumer choices are accelerating textile recycling
Consumer choices are accelerating textile recycling
Textile production consumes significant natural resources, which is why it is important to strongly promote the textile circular economy. Positive things have already happened, as themes related to textile responsibility and the circular economy are gaining more and more visibility among users, in the media and in legislation.
Get to know the circular economy at the Mikkeli Circular Economy Days
Get to know the circular economy at the Mikkeli Circular Economy Days
One solution to the sustainability gap in society and economic activity is the circular economy. The circular economy requires new thinking, innovations and operating models, but on the other hand it also offers opportunities, for example, to develop new types of business activities.
New information on the synthetic inertia of electrical networks
New information on the synthetic inertia of electrical networks
Finland’s electricity production is changing dramatically. Electricity is being produced increasingly using nuclear power and renewable energy sources.
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