Sweco commits to circular economy green deal
Published: Dec 4, 2024
Sweco is committed to promoting circular economy in its business. Sweco’s circular economy green deal commitment and targets were approved by the Ministry of the Environment on November 28, 2024.
The Circular Economy Green Deal, initiated by the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, is a voluntary strategic commitment in which organisations reduce the use of natural resources, set effective targets and promote a low-carbon circular economy.
Sweco Finland is committed to enhance the management of comprehensive sustainability and circular economy to its client work even more strongly.
“In connection with all significant construction planning assignments, we commit to presenting measures to reduce the material footprint of different implementation options. In addition, we carry out a sustainability review in all significant projects, covering both circular economy perspectives and resource efficiency, among other sustainability measures. We are also committed to increasing our own and our clients’ circular economy expertise,” says Iida Vakkuri, Sweco’s Chief Sustainability Officer.
Read about Sweco’s commitment on Ministry of Environment’s website (in Finnish)
Concrete measures and objectives are related to sustainability management in projects
Carbon footprint analysis of materials
The goal is that by 2035, Sweco will have a carbon footprint calculation tool utilisation rate of over 90%, and 70% of projects involving structural design have implemented circular economy measures or set circular economy targets based on the carbon footprint assessment. The carbon footprint of materials can be assessed in both refurbishment and new construction projects, and it is carried out already in the pre-planning phase of the project before the building permit phase.
More information of Sweco’s carbon footprint calculation tool
Sustainability review
Sweco is developing a completely new project sustainability management model for the built environment and industry projects. It includes a sustainability review, which, along with the Green Deal, includes a study of circular economy and resource efficiency. The goal is that by 2035, 70% of Sweco’s construction and infrastructure projects will be subject to a sustainability review in the project development phase. Based on the sustainability review, project-specific circular economy measures are proposed, such as setting circular economy targets, material choices and procurement, or the recyclability of materials.
More information of Sweco’s carbon management model
Case: Koskela depot project utilises carbon data in project management
In addition, Sweco commits to conducting a sustainability review in suitable energy production and industrial projects. The goal is that by 2035, a sustainability review will be proposed for all suitable industrial projects. The review takes into account, among other things, opportunities for alternative energy production solutions and ways to promote circular economy solutions in the energy sector and the circular economy areas. The sustainability review is carried out during the concept development phase of the project, and its results are utilised in the further planning of the project so that the identified solutions can also be implemented in practice where possible.
Circular economy areas and industrial symbioses
Circular economy green deal in a nutshell
The actions of organisations committed to the circular economy green deal must support the circular economy programme’s natural resource targets, carbon neutrality and the promotion of a sustainable economy by 2035.
The commitments proposed for the Green Deal for the circular economy will be evaluated by an evaluation group consisting of researchers from the Finnish Environment Institute, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Natural Resources Institute Finland. The group assesses the effectiveness of the commitments in relation to the objectives of the Circular Economy Programme and the guidelines of the Green Deal for the Circular Economy. The assessment team proposes that the commitments be approved, supplemented or rejected by the Ministry of the Environment.
The commitments aim to reduce the use of raw materials, extend the service life of materials and products, increase alternatives that burden the environment less and strengthen natural capital, and develop new operating and business models in line with the circular economy. The Green Deal is intended for companies, industry associations, municipalities and counties.
The preparation of the Green Deal for the circular economy began in spring 2022 at the invitation of the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. Most of Finland’s regions, the largest cities, key business and industry organisations, the largest companies in the forest industry and a large number of actors in the construction sector worked together with the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment to prepare the rules for the Green Deal.
The Circular Economy Green Deal was published on 12 September 2024.