Uusikuidusta

Uusikuidusta is a fictional region and concept used in speculative design, design fiction, and sustainability discourse to illustrate a closed-loop fiber economy. It serves as a case study for how a community might organize around the production and use of natural fibers within a regenerative system.

In the imagined geography, Uusikuidusta lies in a northern maritime setting with several small islands and a boreal climate. The concept is deliberately crafted to explore how place-based communities can develop resilient supply chains around fiber production, from feedstock collection to end-of-life recycling, while balancing social and environmental factors.

The core idea centers on producing a durable, bio-based fiber from agricultural residues such as straw and husks. Local processing facilities convert feedstock into fiber through energy-efficient methods, with product design oriented toward disassembly and reuse. The system envisions energy independence or surplus through a mix of wind, solar, and biogas sources, and aims to reinvest waste streams into soil amendments, soil carbon, or new feedstock. Applications span textiles, composites for construction, and packaging materials.

Governance emphasizes community cooperatives and participatory decision-making. A digital provenance platform, referred to in the concept as KuiduNet, tracks material flows from field to product to reuse, supporting transparency and circularity. Research institutions and educational programs are depicted as integral stakeholders, contributing to continuous improvement and local employment.

In discourse, Uusikuidusta is used to probe questions of supply-chain resilience, environmental impact, labor conditions, and scalability of circular fiber systems. It is a thought experiment rather than a real place, with critiques noting that fictional models may simplify complex socio-economic dynamics. See also circular economy, biobased materials, and design fiction.