School project leads to bioindicator garden at Kokkola chemical plant

A green space planted with bioindicator species has been established at the CABB chemical plant in Kokkola, following a proposal by local middle school students, reports Yle.

The garden, covering roughly 25 square metres, includes plants, shrubs, and a small pond designed to monitor air and soil quality by reacting to emissions such as heavy metals and carbon dioxide. Students from Lohtaja School’s natural science elective course developed the concept as part of the Future Makers competition, where young innovators collaborate with local businesses.

Juulia Lahtinen, one of the students involved, explained that the bioindicators will help detect potential emissions by observing how different substances in the air or soil affect the planted species. “We hope the plants thrive and provide clear results,” she said.

The project also includes plans to add moss and water lilies later. CABB’s environmental and health safety engineer, Atte Hölsä, praised the collaboration with the school, calling the resulting green space “beyond expectations” and a welcome addition for employees. He noted that the company will track changes in the area over time to better identify emission sources.

The initiative aligns with broader industry concerns about declining youth interest in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Tuomas Kohvakka, sustainability specialist at the Chemical Industry Federation of Finland, said such projects aim to demonstrate practical applications of STEM skills while addressing environmental challenges like biodiversity loss. “Companies have many opportunities to reduce nature loss, whether through water efficiency, energy savings, or product lifecycle design,” he added.

The Lohtaja School project advanced to the finals of the Future Makers competition in Tallinn in early 2025, receiving an honorary mention.