How does plastic waste sorting currently operate? What influencing measures do financiers, clients, and developers have to promote low plastic usage and the circular economy of plastics in residential construction? These concrete measures were investigated in a joint project by Premico, Lujatalo, ARA, the Ministry of the Environment, and Kuntarahoitus. The project focused on the most significant measures during the construction phase using a pilot project and is part of the national plastic roadmap.
The construction industry is one of the largest users of plastic, with plastics typically accounting for about 18% of all construction waste. The majority of this consists of disposable packaging plastics.
The aim of the project was to describe how low plastic usage is considered in the construction industry and to propose operational methods that various parties involved in construction projects can implement to promote low plastic usage. The project focused on the most impactful measures during the construction phase in work site conditions, utilizing data and insights from Premico Asuntorahasto II and Lujatalo’s pilot project, Metsäkissa, comprising 76 affordable rental apartments in Vantaa. In addition to the data and lessons learned from the pilot project, the expertise of construction industry professionals was extensively utilized to assess the current state of low plastic usage.
Reduce, Avoid, Recycle, Substitute
The project took the perspectives outlined in the Ministry of the Environment’s plastic roadmap: reduce, avoid, recycle, and substitute.
Through the pilot project, it was found that concrete actions to promote low plastic usage on the work site included setting a sorting rate of 70%, organizing separate collection, establishing a comprehensive material flow chart, tracking and documenting the amount of plastics, providing guidance and training to workers, and phase-specific planning considering recycling. These measures significantly increased both the sorting and recycling rates, while also reducing the amount of construction waste compared to a control site. However, these measures also increased transportation and pallet rental costs, although they simultaneously lowered costs associated with construction waste, thus keeping the overall costs at the same level as the control site.
In addition to the concrete measures at the pilot site, the project also identified clear needs related to low plastic usage and the circular economy for the entire construction industry. To promote circular economy models in the construction sector, collaboration across the entire value chain is required, and therefore plastics should be considered as part of the broader low-carbon framework. Examples of this include considering low plastic usage during the design phase, increasing collaboration with material manufacturers, and encouraging circular economy practices through regulatory guidance.
Best practices for promoting low plastic usage and the circular economy of plastics are intended to be widely shared throughout the construction industry in both Finland and the Nordic countries, as their adoption requires involvement from the entire value chain. The project report can be downloaded from this website.
The project is part of the Nordic circular economy LOOP ecosystem, aimed at promoting and implementing concrete circular economy solutions.
For more information:
Construction project “Metsäkissa”
- Premico Group Oy, Janne Vaula, janne.vaula@premico.fi, +358 40 501 6063
- Lujatalo Oy, Rainer Noppa, rainer.noppa@luja.fi, 044 5852879
- ARA, Vesa Ijäs, vesa.ijas@ara.fi, +358 50 565 1934
- Kuntarahoitus, Rami Erkkilä, rami.erkkila@kuntarahoitus.fi, +358 50 348 2520
Plastic Roadmap, Construction Plastic Roadmap, Green Deal Agreement
- Ministry of the Environment, Päivi Piispa, paivi.piispa@ym.fi, +358 50 4156452
Study project and its report
- Verona Growth Oy, Moona Pohjola, moona.pohjola@verona.fi, +358 40 86 96 074