The Polemocene – Humanity’s War with the Forest
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB - RISE |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 698 487 |
| Project duration | March 2025 - June 2025 |
| Status | Ongoing |
| Venture | Call for proposals within Hållbara Värdekedjor |
| Call | Future prototypes for a sustainable forest value chain |
Purpose and goal
The Polemocene explores a future where the human-forest relationship is marked by conflict. Through an interactive future prototype, we aim to stimulate reflection, dialogue and action around sustainable forest management. The goal is to inspire actors within and outside the forest value chain to act long-term and preventively in the face of future ecological and social challenges.
Expected effects and result
The project is expected to raise awareness of the risks of unsustainable forestry and inspire new strategies, business models and policy tools for a sustainable forest value chain. Through dialogue and reflection around the future scenario, the project can contribute to system change, cross-sectoral collaboration and enhanced innovation capacity in the transition towards a sustainable bioeconomy.
Planned approach and implementation
The project is carried out in four stages: horizon scanning and trend analysis, development of future scenarios and prototype concepts, production of an interactive exhibition experience, and demonstration and dialogue with target groups. Through interdisciplinary collaboration between design, research and the forest sector, a speculative future prototype will be created that engages, challenges and inspires sustainable transformation.