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

Digital leap in circular construction – shared data supports ambitious goals

To utilise materials from demolished buildings efficiently, it is required that information about the materials’ quality and quantity is available well in advance. In Vattuniemi, Lauttasaari, a shared digital platform makes operations much easier as it brings the data on the material flows into one place.

Circular economy extends to residents’ everyday life on new Jätkäsaari block

An entire city block is planned and designed on the terms of circular economy in Helsinki. The plan is to also have circular economy as part of the everyday life of the future residents of the communal block of Jätkäsaari. The block is being developed by two members of Helsinki’s cluster programme for circular economy, Spolia Design and the Yrjö and Hanna Foundation.

Circular economy cluster program invites concrete companies to an innovation challenge to test the utilisation of demolition wool in concrete production

There are still few possibilities for reusing buildings’ insulation mineral wool, and in Finland alone, up to 20,000 tonnes of mineral wool ends up in landfills a year. The City of Helsinki's circular economy cluster program is organising an innovation challenge for concrete companies, where companies can test the utilisation of wool powder made from demolition wool in the manufacture of concrete.

Construction boosts circular economy – demolition in Vattuniemi shows the way

The Ministry of the Environment estimates that approximately 1.6 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste is generated every year in Finland. According to the EU’s directive on waste, 70% of this should be reused, but Motiva estimates that the figure stands at only about 50%. This serves as a good reason to promote circular economy in construction, in addition to conserving natural resources and slowing down climate change and loss of biodiversity. The circular economy cluster programme, launched by the City of Helsinki, is also aiming to achieve circular economy in construction.

Challenge competition: how the demolition survey data could be utilized more widely?

Circular Design Network has launched a challenge competition to find new ideas and concepts for utilizing data in circular economy. The challenge by City of Helsinki's Circular Economy Cluster Program and Motiva Services is one out of the six.

Helsinki City Housing Company – Heka innovation program

Apply for the Innovation Program by 5th December 2021 to present offer your solution for low carbon housing to Helsinki City Housing Company! As the largest lessor in Finland, Helsinki City Housing Company HEKA maintains a building portfolio that includes over 50,000 apartments serving over 92,000 residents.

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