The work of the ‘Law, Technology and Sustainability Transitions’ research group (LOST) is based on driving values of sustainability transitions and protection of fundamental rights.

The group is especially interested in ways in which law can advance but also possibly slow down the integration of sustainability transitions into technological and digital transformation strategies. This integration responds to persistent global and local problems such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and associated injustice.

Sustainability transitions are radical and multidimensional processes of change towards an ecologically sustainable society that require changes across many production and consumption systems (energy, transport, food, housing, industry etc.). These changes may include challenging the existing market structures and geopolitics, enabling stakeholders to run more efficiently and sustainably at the same time, looking closer at the motives behind consumers’ pro-ecological behaviors. The research group also focuses on protecting fundamental rights in times of societal transformation.

Our Researchers

Law, Technology and Sustainability Transitions research group members and their focus areas

Objectives

The research group is aiming at influencing policy discussions at national, European Union and international level, increasing international cooperation of ULapland researchers, as well as advancing theoretical thinking in law for sustainability transitions.

This is done by increasing visibility and sharing research, collaborative projects, publications and events as well as making impactful sustainability transition research. Overall, the group aims at renewing law research and methodologies and changing policies and practices into more sustainable ones. 

Means to reach the objectives:
  • Making impactful sustainability transition research
  • Creating collaborative projects, publications and events
  • Renewing law research and methodologies
  • Increasing international cooperation of ULapland researchers
  • Becoming an established research group, get visibility, produce collaborative research
  • Positively impacting sustainability policies and practices at national, European Union and international levels

Researcher Profiles

Publications, projects and activities of
Law, Technology and Sustainability Transitions researchers

Research portal

Examples of our research activities

ValueBioMat

Bio-oils based polymeric composites; value chain from synthesis to additive manufacturing

  • Funded by the Strategic Research Council
  • 2022–2025
  • consortium of 4 partners
  • Lead at the University of Lapland: Professor Rosa Ballardini

Currently plastics are produced mainly from fossil based raw materials and are not recycled to the full extent. The ValueBioMat project studies how we could make the whole value chain of plastic production and use more sustainable. How could the modern world make a comprehensive shift from fossil petrochemistry based polymeric materials to sustainable, renewable and carbon-binding ones, in order to enable resource efficient production and to foster re- and up-cycling of plastics?

In the ValueBioMat project, experts in fields ranging from chemistry to industrial engineering to law are seeking answers to this question. The project offers solutions based on the utilization of novel bio-based raw materials, especially plant oil derived materials. In addition of inventing novel materials, the research examines the merge of novel biopolymers with digital additive manufacturing technology. This new concept of using sustainable and renewable materials will have great socio-economic impacts; therefore, life cycle analysis, legal-ethical-policy issues and viable business models are co-created in collaboration with stakeholders, to speed up the application of bio-based and recycled plastics.

Last updated: 3.12.2025