ViteMeir and SIMAS with visionary collaboration

Press release: ViteMeir and SIMAS join forces to strengthen identity and create activity within the environment and circular economy

ViteMeir and SIMAS have entered into a 3-year cooperation agreement regarding both financial contributions and development of subject content at the science center. – An important collaboration project for SIMAS, says Director Hallvard Thomassen.

The background to the agreement is that both parties see the benefit of close cooperation around the world's demands regarding climate and the transition to a circular economy. We must work on solutions to the challenges as much locally as globally. 

- This is an agreement we have been working on throughout the fall and I am very pleased that we have reached our goal. ViteMeir "With this agreement, we are one step closer to our internal requirements that we be at the forefront of the environment and circular economy," says Erlend Fardal Lunde, CEO. ViteMeir . 

SIMAS becomes ViteMeir -partners in the period 2021-2023 with a total contract value of NOK 400,000. 

Focus on food waste 

- In our collaboration, we will place particular focus on preventing food waste. Here, information and education will be absolutely crucial to bringing about a change in both consumption and waste of usable food, says Thomassen. 

ViteMeir has visionary goals for its own food waste and will design its own plan for "zero food waste". The visionary thoughts can lead to ViteMeir at some point you can do without a food waste bin. 

- After many years in the hotel industry, I know that food waste is a big problem. We throw away far too much food and know that 50% of all the food we throw away could have been eaten. ViteMeir has a dream that all food waste will be circular on our own premises. To make this happen, it is crucial to collaborate with SIMAS, says Erlend Fardal Lunde. 

ViteMeir has both short-term and long-term plans for, among other things, caterpillar farms and its own composting. ViteMeir wants guests to be able to eat vegetables grown in composted soil from their own food waste. Even higher on the visionary ladder, the science center envisions that they might be able to offer bread made from caterpillar flour.  

- It probably sounds completely wild, but anything is possible and I really want to offer caterpillar bread one day, Lunde says enthusiastically. 

Through learning programs and concrete installations in the exhibition, SIMAS and ViteMeir Focus on how to reduce food waste and what this can mean for your economy. 

- SIMAS recently conducted a sorting analysis that showed that 30% of the residual waste was wet organic waste. The majority of this was edible food. This is a misuse of resources and of one's own wallet, says Thomassen. 

Learning plan for 4th grade 

SIMAS has previously had its own learning program aimed at all 4th graders in the region. SIMAS wants to further develop this in collaboration with ViteMeir , and that they can now reach even more target groups. 

- The need for information and knowledge is great if we are to succeed in the transition to a circular economy. In the future, we must use the earth's resources in a completely different way than today. With this collaboration, we want to further develop our information activities, says Thomassen. 

Reuse 

The consumer society is a challenge to achieving circular economy goals. ViteMeir will have sewing machines in their Skaparverkstad. Maybe old clothes can be turned into an environmentally friendly carrier bag or old curtains into new clothes?  

Thomassen and Lunde are enthusiastic about the road ahead and are confident that together they can create exciting activities for all age groups.  

Contact: 

Erlend Fardal Lunde, ViteMeir : +47 464 28 741
Hallvard Thomassen, SIMAS: +47 995 78 118