The construction and real estate sector accounts for a significant part of society's environmental and climate impact.
It is important that we reduce the amount of waste and greenhouse-gas-emissions produced by the construction industry. By cooperating, we will make the market for sustainable and circular construction both bigger and better.
Marthe Haugland, Senior Advisor at Nordic Innovation
5 work packages – one industry
The Sustainable Construction program is a part of the Nordic Vision 2030, and was initiated by the Nordic Ministers for Construction and Housing. The programme includes five areas supported by Nordic Innovation.
Life Cycle Assessment and Data is concerned with harmonizing Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) across the Nordics, and the Circular Business Models and Procurement work package aims to integrate circular thinking into the business models of the Nordic construction companies and public procurers.
The Sustainable Construction Materials and Architecture work package is challenging the existing Nordic construction and architectural industry on sustainability, whilst the Emission free Construction Sites work package focuses on cutting emissions from construction sites.
Lastly, the Programme Secretariat runs activities for increased reuse of construction materials in addition to being responsible for the overall external and internal communication of the knowledge created in the programme.
The Sustainable Construction Programme contributes to sustainability in the construction sector through powering innovation and entrepreneurship. At Nordic Innovation we facilitate Nordic cooperation on the matter, through connecting the private sector, key stakeholders and decisionmakers
Rasmus Malmborg, Senior Advisor at Nordic Innovation
Read more about the 5 work packages
Public procurement of buildings
One of the projects from the Sustainable Construction Programme is a collaborative project between three cities in three different Nordic countries.
Tampere, Stavanger and Torshavn are all part of the Nordic Smart City Network, which has been very active both within health and sustainable cities earlier. Now the three cities are working on a joint project called “Nordic Sustainable Construction Processes”. The cities are working with including circular thinking in the planning processes and the actual tenders for buildings. As a pilot cases, a nursing home and a kindergarten has been chosen.
In order to drive sustainability in the construction sector, a holistic approach to circularity is vital. We need to look at everything from waste management and pollution to architecture. The best way to promote circularity is through knowledge sharing and Nordic cooperation. The Smart City project is a good example of such.
Rasmus Malmborg, Senior Advisor at Nordic Innovation
Circular Business models in the construction industry
In fall 2022 Nordic Innovation is running circular business model workshops for the Nordic construction industry. The companies participating have already started their circular thinking, and together they are looking at their inefficiencies and how they can become even more customer oriented. The workshops are based on the Nordic Circular Economy Playbook: Nordic Sustainable Business Transformation | Nordic Innovation
Innovation in the business model is key to companies’ competitiveness and circular economy is an excellent way of innovating in your business model which also benefits society.
Marthe Haugland, Senior Advisor at Nordic Innovation
Innovation is key to sustainability
Sustainable construction is an important focus area for both the Nordic Council of Ministers and Nordic Innovation and efficient measures are crucial in supporting the vision for the Nordic region to be the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by 2030.
The construction industry is responsible for 1/3 of global greenhouse-gas-emissions, and a lot of waste. It’s no secret that it also heavily impacts nature. This is the case for construction all around the world, and it is a massive challenge we need to overcome.
Marthe Haugland, Senior Advisor at Nordic Innovation
Nordic Innovation aims to make the Nordics a pioneering region for sustainable growth by promoting entrepreneurship, innovation and competitiveness in Nordic businesses.
