Jaana Pippola is driven by a sustainable future
Jaana Pippola has always been drawn to sustainable design, and her CHEMARTS studies at Aalto University gave her the tools and confidence to explore bio-based materials in creative and practical ways.
Jaana Pippola, Master of Arts in Creative Sustainability
“When I first heard of CHEMARTS, I immediately knew that it was the minor for me. I had originally began my Bachelor of Arts in Design studies because I wanted to become a sustainable designer and have my future work focus on bio-based materials. It felt natural to apply to CHEMARTS courses.”
“Even with a design background, I was able to work in a laboratory setting in creative and varied ways.”
Hands-on learning and collaboration
Jaana’s CHEMARTS courses included Design Meets Biomaterials, Plant Biomass, and CHEMARTS Project between 2022 and 2023. She particularly enjoyed the cross-disciplinary collaboration, working alongside peers and experts in a supportive, safe, and experimental environment.
One of her group projects, “Costume Party in the Shrubbery”, explored bio-based embroidery materials to replace conventional plastics like sequins, rhinestones, and pearls. She also investigated her own product ideas, performed microscopic studies, and conducted literature reviews.
“A recurring challenge is designing materials that are waterproof, shock-resistant, and still fully biodegradable,” she reflects. “Some solutions worked efficiently, others less so, but I remain motivated to explore new ways to overcome these dilemmas.”
“Costume Party in the Shrubbery” was a student group project executed together with Enni Rasia, Aaro Vanninen, and Danel Zilinski. Dyeing materials for the product included e.g., bio waste from the kitchen, like onion shells and used coffee grounds. Photographer: Esa Kapila.
From CHEMARTS to climate-positive work
Since then, Jaana has worked as a project employee and a gardener at ISS Palvelut Oy, focusing on nature-positive solutions for the built environment, including projects that support biodiversity and climate adaptation.
“CHEMARTS gave me a holistic understanding of sustainable design, strengthened my collaborative skills, and boosted my confidence to explore imaginative ideas,” she says. “While my current job doesn’t match CHEMARTS exactly, I constantly consider responsible material use and work with diverse teams toward a sustainable future. I am simply doing it from another kind of viewpoint.”
Making big positive transformations
Jaana’s long-term vision is to help transform the Finnish forest industry into a more sustainable system. She sees wood as a great material, but emphasizes that careful, responsible management is essential.
“While wood is a great, and a more sustainable alternative to many materials, we still have a long way to go to a fully responsible use of forests. Let the trees grow in peace.”
Follow Jaana on LinkedIn.
Interested in studying CHEMARTS courses? Apply to Aalto University.