Circular economy and waste management

In the construction sector, the circular economy means material and energy efficiency. It is closely linked to durability, adaptability, ease of repair and material recycling. Design and procurement guidance influence material choices and technical solutions, and help ensure successful procurement.

The entire value chain affects the amount of waste generated: design solutions, selected working methods and procurement, work planning, material transport and storage, careful installation, as well as protection of finished surfaces and site conditions. In our construction projects, we focus on minimising material and energy loss and on efficient waste management.

Waste management

One of the most significant impacts of construction activities is the generation of waste. We have long invested in reducing waste volumes, minimising material loss and improving sorting on our construction sites. Every site prepares a waste management plan together with the subcontractor, and all projects follow source separation, which improves opportunities for recycling and reuse.

The utilisation rate is already high: concrete is almost entirely reused as crushed aggregate, timber is mainly used for energy production and partly as fibre, and metals, gypsum and cardboard are recycled. We are also piloting the reuse of clean timber. Only small amounts of hazardous waste are generated, and these are handled appropriately. Waste sorting is an established part of our site culture, and we continue to develop and lead it together with our partners.

Construction products and components in the circular economy

To conserve natural resources and virgin raw materials — and to reduce the emissions associated with producing construction materials — we need to find ways to reuse building components and to choose used or easily reusable products for new projects.

These practices are still developing both in Finland and internationally. Sharing experiences and expertise helps accelerate this progress, while ensuring that requirements related to building safety and health are always met. We follow developments closely and participate, for example, in the Helsinki Circular Economy Cluster Programme. In our own projects, we explore opportunities one product category at a time.