Circular construction – what does it mean?
Blog
Circular economy in construction means, among other things, that new buildings are designed and built to be flexible and, if necessary, relocatable if space requirements change during the life of the building. One of the strengths of modular construction is that adding or subtracting modules allows efficient use of space even in permanent buildings.
It is best to avoid temporary facilities, as at worst they alone can cost millions. With modern modular construction, a permanent building can be built in the same time and for the same money. The buildings of the future are designed and built to last for more than 100 years, regardless of need. Modular construction can ensure the life-cycle ecology of buildings by cost-effectively constructing energy-efficient and durable buildings.
Our modular building solution is based on the FIXCEL® steel cell, which rigid structure allows large spatial elements to be manufactured under factory conditions and modules to be moved to the building site without the risk of structural deterioration or moulding. From a circular economy perspective, this is an environmentally friendly construction method with exceptionally low energy consumption and recyclable, carefully selected building materials.
In addition to energy efficiency, we reduce the carbon footprint of the building during its operation, for example through flexibility and adaptability and the use of long-lasting building materials. It is therefore worthwhile to reduce wear and tear and repair costs during use by choosing high quality materials. Examples include aluminium-framed windows and doors, durable facade and roof coatings, and easy-to-maintain ventilation systems. At the end of the lifecycle, we reduce the impact on the climate by reusing and recycling materials and components.
WE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT – OUR WASTE MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN CARBON NEUTRAL SINCE 2020
Reducing waste requires planning and a long-term commitment. Emissions from waste management are mainly caused by the transport and treatment of waste. Our partner L&T has made long-term efforts and taken active measures to reduce emissions from its transport operations, including optimising routes and switching to the lowest emission vehicles. In addition, L&T’s own recycling facilities use green electricity, reducing the carbon footprint of waste handling.
Sustainable waste management is an example of our sustainability work. Since 2020, with the help of L&T, we have completely zeroed the CO2 load of our waste management and our production processes are optimised to minimise waste.
We will continue to sort waste from our operations to recycle valuable materials. However, not all waste management emissions can be completely avoided. The carbon footprint of our waste management is measured, and our remaining emissions are offset annually through Gold Standard certified reforestation projects. In selecting these projects, we are concerned not only with reducing emissions, but also with providing employment for the population.
Read more about how we invest in sustainability and the circular economy.