Circular Economy

Companies in construction, join us in developing the circular economy in Helsinki! Helsinki Circular Economy Cluster Program promotes circular economy in construction by launching pilots, developing tools and providing trainings.

Helsinki to pioneer in the circular economy

The circular economy is the best way to reduce emissions during construction and to curb the over-consumption of natural resources. Helsinki’s Circular Economy Cluster Program promotes circular economy innovations and business by bringing together operators in the construction sector.

Different sized companies, research institutes, universities and other organisations interested in promoting circular construction with concrete actions are welcome to join the cluster.

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Since the City of Helsinki has a strong role as a client, a real estate developer and a constructor, the Circular Economy Cluster Program focuses especially on promoting circularity in the construction sector. A large proportion of construction companies also operate in the Helsinki metropolitan area where material flows are vast and transportation costs remain reasonable – here, the reuse, recycling and processing of different construction products have the potential to develop into a profitable business.

Helsinki Circular Economy Cluster Program is involved in all stages of the circular economy in construction

Achieving a circular economy requires the whole sector to contribute, but there is still a shortage of know-how. That is why we need experimentation with new things, research-based information and the sharing of lessons learned. The Circular Economy Cluster Program supports practical experiments and cooperation between operators, and helps find new business opportunities.

Activities involve, e.g. designing for the circular economy, extending the life cycle, dismantling intact and reusing materials and building components.

See some project examples:

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 summer, Helsinki’s Circular Economy Cluster Program piloted Cubeco modules made from recycled raw materials in Malminkartano. This pilot project was a continuance to the concrete industry’s innovation challenge held last 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?

  • Mira Jarkko

  • Chief Advisor, Team Leader
    Green Transition and New Technologies
    City of Helsinki
    Business Helsinki, Innovation services

  • Eeva Jalovaara

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

  • Ronny Rantamäki

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

  • Mette Hiltunen

  • Project Manager
    Arabia Circular Hub Helsinki
    City of Helsinki
    Business Helsinki, Innovation services

  • Noora Haavisto

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