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

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.

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  • 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