Carbon-neutral circular economy

Circular economy solutions during the construction life cycle that support the creation of a carbon handprint. During the programme period, measures will be taken to promote the extension of the life of buildings, conversion flexibility, utilisation of secondary raw materials, reduction of construction waste, utilisation of demolition waste and sharing economy solutions.

Reusing materials and increasing their valuable circulation both in the city’s own operations and in the Espoo community. Strengthening the circulation of materials, for example in terms of demolition materials, plastic, textiles and bio-fractions. 

Biocircular economy, where solutions are produced for the development of a bioeconomy based on renewable natural resources and the creation of areas that support it, such as Kiviruukki. Solutions include, for example, producing food and biogas in accordance with the circular economy principles, as well as increasing the use of recycled growth matter and reducing food waste in the city’s operations.

Sustainable acquisitions, where the city uses renting, acquires goods as a service and repairs instead of acquiring new, when it is a more sustainable option. Public procurement has a steering effect on the development and implementation of circular economy solutions. Development activities are launched and the overall benefits of sustainable acquisitions for the city and the impact of acquisitions on the development of the market can be evaluated.

Circular and sharing economy services are offered to residents, which help influence the amount of consumption-based emissions. Measures include, for example, mapping of circular and sharing economy companies operating in Espoo, circular economy commercial concentrations, waste management services and solutions for mobility based on the sharing economy. The sharing economy contributes to a sustainable, financially flexible and prosperous city. During the programme period, we support the meeting of circular economy companies and residents and resident-oriented community-based solutions that promote a sustainable lifestyle. We bring the circular economy services of both the city and the Espoo community to the Helsinki Metropolitan Area service map.

At the end of 2020, we signed the Europe-wide circular economy commitment Circular Cities Declaration, the ten goals of which promote the implementation of the city’s circular economy and sustainable development. By cooperating with the various city sectors and other interest groups, we are committed to creating a clear circular economy plan, improving awareness and commitment to the circular economy, and introducing circular economy thinking to all of the city’s activities as well as to how we are enforcing circular economy business operations in Espoo.

Beatriz Ramírez, Specialist: “By signing the Circular Cities Declaration, Espoo is committed to taking the circular economy to the next level. We will strengthen circular economy cooperation both within the city organisation and with other interest groups, so that a real systemic change towards the circular economy can take place. Come and join us!”

Kera district is a pioneer in sustainable urban development, where solutions supporting a carbon-neutral circular economy are tested and developed. Together with residents, landowners, companies and other development partners, we are developing an international example of a smart city and circular economy. 

Emmi Kauhanen, Development Manager: “Kera is at the beginning of its transition from a former industrial area to a sustainable, community-based district. The urban environment that is under construction will offer a variety of opportunities for businesses and other organisations to test and develop circular economy solutions, for example in relation to energy, mobility and construction.”

The project strengthens cooperation, innovation and business activities between the public and private sector in the development of low-carbon transport, energy, circular economy and clean and smart urban solutions. The aim of the project is to build effective ecosystems together with 100 companies and developers and to lay the foundations for more effective project and development activities.

In terms of the circular economy in the RAKKE project, the focus is on mapping the selected material flows (2 to 3 materials). Multisectoral operators of each material flow form an ecosystem, the functioning of which is developed and the effectiveness of which is evaluated in order to strengthen the business operations.

Reetta Jänis, Development Manager: “The RAKKE project is a concrete tool for deepening cooperation between the City of Espoo, companies and other operators, assessing its effectiveness and directing resources and funding towards measures and solutions that are essential for recovery.”

The Europe-wide CityLoops project develops methods and tools for planning the recycling of construction and demolition materials and organic waste in cities. For example, did you know that fallen leaves could be used for the production of biochar or compost that would then be used for growing the city’s future gardens? Or are you aware that concrete and slabs from a demolition project could be used to construct a new building?

Through these circular economy measures, we can reduce carbon dioxide emissions from construction in our growing city and utilise the possibilities of absorbing carbon dioxide with the help of the local biomass cycle. The ultimate goal is to promote the transition to a circular economy.

Rosa Väisänen, Specialist: “Many circular economy challenges are global. It is wonderful that CityLoops allows us to look for and implement solutions to these challenges in close cooperation with other European cities and test their proven solutions in Espoo.”

The implementation path to sustainable growth development environments is a joint project of the City of Espoo, VTT, Aalto University and Omnia, which promotes the objectives of the Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland by strengthening private and public partnerships and developing the research infrastructure towards the growing market for green transition and digitalisation.

The project creates the preconditions for the development of a research and development environment for energy and mobility solutions using unique smart pillar technology in the Otaniemi–Keilaniemi area, the development of an internationally renowned clean and smart construction area in the Kera area, where a circular economy survey on demolition materials will be carried out, and the creation of an agile experimental environment for food system and circular economy demonstrations in Kiviruukki.

Mari Päätalo, Development Manager: “We work together with our partners to solve issues related to various aspects of sustainability. In terms of the circular economy, the project will look into the possibilities of reusing demolition materials in Kera and create conditions for the establishment of a test environment for material experiments and sustainable food systems in Kiviruukki.”

Closed Plastic Circle - from Pilots into Practice is a continuation of the work started by the Smart & Clean Foundation in 2018, which aims to increase plastic recycling rate to 60-70 percent in the Capital Region and Päijät-Häme. After the foundation ceased its operations, the coordination responsibility of the Closed Plastic Circle -effort was transferred to the city of Espoo, and this project is one of our ways to implement the Closed Plastic Circle -work. The project focuses on developing the recycled plastic market by piloting new types of processes and improving the knowledge base.

Reetta Jänis, Development Manager: “Plastic recycling and the circular economy are important measures for achieving Espoo’s carbon-neutrality objective of 2030. In Espoo, we want to promote the recycling rate of plastics, for example, by offering residents diverse sorting and collection opportunities and by participating in the piloting and development of new innovations.”

The goal of the AutoMod project(external link) is to create a new kind of business ecosystem and platform in which utility robots can solve circular economy challenges in a smart city. In the future the AutoMod ecosystem can cover all of Finland and serve also other purposes than just circular economy ones.  In addition to the City of Espoo, Forum Virium Helsinki and Metropolia University of Applied Sciences are involved in the project.

In The Story of Plastic – From Waste to Product project we collected plastic waste from schools in Espoo and then studied and processed the collected waste in the plastic laboratory of the LAB University of Applied Sciences. The project aimed to find more applications for recycled plastics. We wanted to strengthen the separate collection of plastics and increase the knowledge and skills of citizens, especially children and young people, on the circular economy. At the same time, we developed solutions for using mixed plastics without additional processing. The project ended in September 2022.

Päivi Kosunen, Specialist: “It’s wonderful that so many people are already really into plastic recycling. The next step could be to give preference to goods made out of recycled plastics.”

In the 6Aika Partnership model for sustainable neighbourhoods (KIEPPI) project, Kera in Espoo, Hiedanranta in Tampere and Turku Science Park were developed into sustainable neighbourhoods that generate new solutions based on the circular and sharing economy. Focus areas in Espoo included sharing economy services, the utilisation of material, nutrient and energy flows as well as urban food production. The project ended in September 2021.

Beatriz Ramírez, Specialist: “As part of the project, we developed new circular economy business opportunities with companies, which will enable us to provide more circular and sharing economy-based services to residents in their everyday lives.”

Mia Johansson, Specialist: “In the KIEPPI project, we promoted, among other things, the circulation of materials in the city’s operations. The aim is to solve the challenges of the circular economy together with companies and other partners in order to make the best use of materials. In this way, we develop both the way the city operates and the circular economy opportunities of companies.”