Circular Economy

The implementation of a circular economy in construction requires commitment from the entire sector, but there is still a lack of expertise. That’s why experimentation, research-based knowledge, and the sharing of lessons learned are essential.

Helsinki Circular Economy Cluster Program

The Helsinki Circular Economy Cluster Program promotes circular innovation and business by bringing together stakeholders from the construction sector

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Näkymä Arabia 135 -korttelin punatiilisestä rakennuksesta auringonvalossa

Arabia Circular Hub Helsinki

The Arabian Circular Economy Hub project is designing a business cluster for circular economy companies in the Arabia 135 block.

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Kiertotalot

The Kiertotalot project promotes the transition of the construction and real estate sectors in the Helsinki metropolitan area towards a carbon-neutral circular economy.

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Helsinki as a Pioneer in Circular Economy

Helsinki supports innovation in the circular economy by promoting sustainable business practices and offering companies the opportunity to use the city as a testing ground. Practical experimentation with circular economy solutions accelerates the market introduction of new innovations and their wider adoption.

The City of Helsinki fosters circular economy innovation through its long-running Circular Economy Cluster Program. The cluster focuses particularly on advancing circular economy in construction by connecting stakeholders in the building sector, initiating pilot projects, developing tools, and providing training.

The circular economy theme has expanded with two major projects. The Arabian Circular Economy Hub project promotes circular business and new innovations by bringing together SMEs in the field. The project is planning a cluster in the Arabia 135 block, offering circular economy companies expert services and networking opportunities.

Another key initiative is the Kiertotalot project, which supports the transition of the construction and real estate sectors in the Helsinki metropolitan area towards a carbon-neutral circular economy. This project targets SMEs developing circular economy and high-value biobased services, products, and operating models.

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

  • Mette Hiltunen

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

  • Ronny Rantamäki

  • Senior Advisor
    Circular Buildings
    City of Helsinki
    Business Helsinki, Innovation services

  • Tytti Pakarinen

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