Helsinki Circular Economy Cluster Program

The Helsinki Circular Economy Cluster Program promotes circular economy in construction by conducting pilot projects, developing tools, and providing training.

Helsinki as a Pioneer in Circular Economy for Construction

The Helsinki Circular Economy Cluster Program promotes circular economy innovation and business by bringing together stakeholders from the construction sector. Circular economy doesn’t happen alone – it requires courage to try new things, share expertise, and collaborate across the entire industry. That’s why experimentation, research-based knowledge, and sharing lessons learned are essential.

The cluster supports practical pilot projects and collaboration between construction actors, helping to discover new business opportunities within the circular economy. Together, we develop circular design, extend building lifecycles, enable intact deconstruction, and promote the reuse of materials and building components.

The cluster focuses especially on advancing circular economy in construction because the City of Helsinki plays a strong role as a client, developer, and builder. We invite companies of all sizes, research institutes, universities, and other organizations who want to drive circular economy forward through concrete actions. Your organization can be part of making a difference!

Join us now!

Feel free to get in touch and become part of the circular economy pioneer network. Several construction companies have already committed to promoting circular economy through concrete actions. Together, we are building a more sustainable future — while also discovering new opportunities to grow and succeed.

Subscribe to the Circular Economy Cluster newsletter to be the first to hear the latest news.

Subscribe to the newsletter (in Finnish only)

Join the Cluster as a Member!

Join the cluster by filling out the membership form or subscribe to our newsletter. You can also always contact the Circular Economy Cluster team.

Jois us

What’s Happening Now in Circular Economy for Construction?

The circular economy in construction is continuously evolving, offering plenty of new knowledge and practical examples. Explore current topics and deepen your expertise with our industry knowledge library. Stay updated on upcoming events and networking opportunities through our event calendar.

Library

The Circular Economy Cluster gathers studies, reports, and other materials produced in its projects into an open-access library for everyone.

Open the library (mostly in Finish)

News

Blue and green toned concrete cubes under a pergola structure with the same colour scheme

The first Finnish park made nearly entirely of recycled materials piloted in Malminkartano

During the summers 2023–2024, Helsinki’s Circular Economy Cluster Program piloted Cubeco modules made from recycled raw materials in Malminkartano. The pilot project was a continuance to the concrete industry’s innovation challenge held the previous year, which aimed to find solutions for reusing demolition wool.

A construction site and blue skies reflected on a glass wall of a building

Carry out a circular economy pilot with construction professionals

Helsinki Circular Economy Cluster Program invites companies to join an innovation challenge, looking for pilot projects to promote the circular economy in the construction industry. The application period is open until 20 October 2023.

Building under demolition in Katajanokka from air, pictured towards Helsinki's city center

World Circular Economy Forum in Helsinki looks for ways to develop sustainable business

The World Circular Economy Forum WCEF2023 will take place in Helsinki, Finland, from 30 May to 2 June 2023. The forum brings together the world's leading circular economy players to present and seek business and government solutions to adapt our economic system to the limits of nature's capacity. The Helsinki Circular Economy Cluster Program takes part in the forum.

Illustration of a storage building for outdoor sports facilities

Helsinki to build storage buildings for outdoor sports facilities from recycled materials – Lippa wins design competition

The City of Helsinki, together with the Department of Architecture at Aalto University, organised the Closing Loops design competition to promote the circular economy in construction. The competition was looking for a concept for a storage building for outdoor sports facilities in Helsinki, which could be built using building components and materials from the city's own demolition sites. The winning entry was Lippa, which the panel of judges described as a project worth developing in terms of structure and urban image, and as a structured use of reusable building components.

Helsinki invited concrete companies to innovate new solutions for reducing emissions – four companies to carry out pilots with the City

The City of Helsinki wants to promote more efficient material use and invited concrete companies to try whether insulation wool from demolished buildings could be reused in the manufacture of concrete. The objective was to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete by developing new concrete recipes and products that utilise powdered demolition wool. A total of nine concrete industry companies took part in the experiment, four of which will get to pilot their solutions with the City.

City of Helsinki invites architecture and civil engineering students of Aalto University to design new storages from dismantled building parts

The Closing Loops student competition, launched in October, is seeking a concept for a storage building for outdoor exercise venues that will be built from construction materials and parts recovered from the City of Helsinki’s demolition projects. The objective is to develop the City’s carbon-neutral construction in accordance with the principles of circular economy. The competition will be open until the end of February.

Want to hear more?

  • Lari Sirén

  • Project Manager
    Circular Economy Cluster Program
    City of Helsinki
    Business Helsinki, Innovation services

  • Noora Haavisto

  • Senior Advisor
    Circular Economy Cluster Program
    City of Helsinki
    Business Helsinki, Innovation services

  • Elise Sorvari

  • Senior Advisor
    Circular Economy Cluster Program
    City of Helsinki
    Business Helsinki, Innovation services