Cities accelerate the reuse of building elements – experts highlight the importance of goals, cooperation and innovation

In a growing city, the circular economy is an important means of reducing emissions from construction, saving natural resources and supporting the conservation of biodiversity. “We want to promote the reuse of building elements in our own demolition and construction projects. By listening to companies in the field, we learned what is currently happening in the field and what we can demand in our own procurements in the near future,” says Development Manager Tiia Tuuri from the City of Espoo, who coordinated the discussions. The discussions were organised as part of the market dialogues of the ongoing innovation challenge of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area's joint Circular Buildings project.

The discussions were carried out in small groups so that the entire construction value chain was represented at the same table in order to gain a versatile view. The discussions emphasised that efficient reuse of building materials requires clear goals from the client, better cooperation between actors and the inclusion of circular economy principles in the plans already in the early stages of the projects. Participants also highlighted the importance of logistics, quality assurance and user attitudes, as well as the benefits of international cooperation.

The small group discussions responded to the need to involve the key actors in both demolition and construction: contractors, designers, construction product manufacturers and reuse operators. The discussion also considered new circular economy-based business models and the new roles of different actors in the supply chain as reuse becomes more common. The dialogue was found important, and more similar group discussions were hoped for in the future. “For me, this is the first event to gather all the parties needed for such development work at the same table; the client, the necessary contractors and the representatives of the users alike,” described one of the participants. 

We asked the companies how municipalities can promote reuse. All participants stressed the importance of goal setting and the fact that reuse solutions require new type of flexibility and responsiveness from planning and cooperation as the project progresses. The schedules of demolition and construction projects live independently of each other, and thus it may be necessary to modify the construction plans and schedule according to the material available. Emerging reuse warehousing and operation services will help with this challenge.

Five measures that municipalities can take to promote the reuse of building elements:

1. Set clear goals and requirements: Determine precisely which materials are to be recovered and what they are used for.
2. Include the circular economy in project planning: Consider the circular economy and reuse in the life cycle model and already in the planning phase of the project so that reuse is genuinely possible.
3. Combine the demolition survey and reuse reports: Identify materials with the best reuse potential and ensure their usability.
4. Develop innovative procurement models and scoring systems: Invitations to tender may set goals for reuse and use scoring systems that encourage contractors to offer reuse solutions and enable flexible design solutions
5. Invest in cooperation and information sharing: Build networks between different actors and share experiences and best practices.

Based on the discussions, the active role of municipalities and clear operating models play a key role in expanding the reuse of building elements and promoting the circular economy in the construction sector. Growing cities in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area can accelerate the growth of circular economy business not only through their own demolition and construction projects but also by other means. For example, municipalities can bring together actors in the sector, spur the development of new operating models and create opportunities to experiment with solutions in the urban environment. New business opportunities are also likely to emerge in the future, as consultancy, logistics and other services related to reuse grow and develop.

Market dialogues were carried out as part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area's joint Circular Buildings project and its ongoing innovation challenge, in which Espoo is seeking innovative reuse solutions for piloting. You can find up-to-date information on the innovation challenge and its scheduling on the website of the Circular Buildings Innovation Challenge.(external link, opens in a new window) The site also offers more information about the challenges of Helsinki and Vantaa. Tenders must be submitted by the end of October 2025.