CircBuild
Promoting circularity and sustainability for the construction and real estate sector
Project information
| Project | Promoting circularity and sustainability for the construction and real estate sector (CircBuild) |
| Duration | 1.1.2025 – 31.12.2026 |
| Partners | Tampere University Häme University of Applied Sciences |
| Funders | European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Funding granted by: Economic Development Centre of Eastern Finland (former Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Etelä-Savo) Business partners of the project |
| Budget | Häme University of Applied Sciences 172 782 €, of which EU funding is 138 225 € Tampere University 296 834 €, of which EU funding is 237 467 € |
The goal of the CircBuild project is to make the research expertise of higher education institutions more accessible to businesses and to create new business opportunities for companies both in Finland and abroad. This nationwide project gathers the latest knowledge into a comprehensive resource and implements a series of pilots in collaboration with Finnish real estate and construction companies, where circular economy solutions and methods are tested in practice.
The construction industry consumes vast amounts of raw materials and is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions globally. New circular economy solutions, such as low-carbon materials, reuse methods, and adaptable building solutions, are urgently needed to reduce material consumption and waste, as well as to lower emissions in the sector. The CircBuild project promotes the transition of the real estate and construction sector toward circular economy practices and sustainable solutions. The main goal of the project is to bring the research expertise of higher education institutions into use for businesses, create new business opportunities both in Finland and internationally, and enhance the industry’s knowledge and capabilities in developing circular economy solutions.
The project collaborates with Finnish real estate and construction companies to implement a series of pilots that test new circular economy solutions and methods. In addition to the pilots, the project includes open workshops and seminars in cooperation with companies, as well as webinars and presentations at events. The project also supports the general expertise in the field through educational collaboration by developing the content of industry-related training programs and by publishing and communicating findings from the project.
Key materials will be compiled on the project’s main website, where they will be easily accessible. During the project, we will actively communicate through the CoreLab innovation platform website at Tampere University, social media channels, and platforms of Häme University of Applied Sciences.
Target group
The target groups of the project include real estate and construction companies, industry organizations and experts, as well as companies and organizations providing education.
Operating area
The project’s co-operation partners and co-funders include A-Kruunu Ltd, Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki Region sr (Hoas), Saint-Gobain Finland Ltd, Y-Säätiö, Hartela-yhtiöt Ltd, and Kiinko Real Estate Education. International collaboration is supported by the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU).
Actions and objectives of the project
1) Compilation of a Research Review
As part of the project, we will compile an extensive and international knowledge package on the circular economy. This research data will be utilized in the project’s pilots, open workshops, and background sections of reports. The compilation of the research review will also draw on the international expertise and networks gained during the researcher exchange abroad by two researchers involved in the project.
2) Implementation of Pilots
We will implement a pilot with each company funding the project. Based on analysis, we will develop a new operational model or process for each company to support the utilization of the circular economy in their business. The practical measures for the pilots will be defined and, where possible, also implemented. The aim is to create company-specific solutions for leveraging the circular economy in business. The results and impacts of the pilots will be analyzed, and the outputs will be published and presented at events.
3) Organization of Open Workshops
We will organize three open workshops, welcoming all actors and companies in the real estate and construction sector. The goal is to foster dialogue among industry stakeholders, share the latest research data, promote the adoption of new practices and innovations, and communicate the project’s findings and the results of the compiled research review. The workshops will be held in Tampere, Hämeenlinna, and Helsinki.
4) Design of a Continuing Education Program
In collaboration with the Kiinko Real Estate Education, we will create a continuing education program on the circular economy. Through this program, Kiinko can provide up-to-date knowledge on new methods and solutions in the circular economy to industry experts. The lessons learned during the project will be utilized in preparing the program.
5) Final Seminar and International Study Trip
The project’s final seminar will be held at the headquarters of the ECIU (European Consortium of Innovative Universities) in Brussels. The event will also invite EU officials who work on international trade for Finnish companies. Following the final seminar, a several-day study trip will be organized in the Netherlands, a European leader in the circular economy.
6) Communication and Event Organization
Active communication is an essential part of the project. We will engage in communication through social media, organize webinars, and aim to bring the project into the spotlight in traditional media as well. We will also publish pilot results, blog posts, and reports on the project’s findings.
News and Updates
Here you can find the latest news and updates about the project.
The project’s researchers conducted a systematic literature review to examine how circular economy approaches are often implemented in residential apartment building projects.
The study identifies five main challenges for circular economy (CE) implementationin apartment building projects: financial, technical, regulatory, cultural and infrastructural. Furthermore, study discussed key considerations for regenerative thinking to boost CE in apartment building projects.
In conclusion, authors argue regenerative circularity presents multiple opportunities for developing more sustainable and social residential built environments
Read the full article here:
A warm welcome to join our CircBuild project’s Final Seminar!
During the Final Seminar, we have the honor of hearing a keynote speech from Aura Salla, a member of the European Parliament, different points of view on circular economy in the built environment, and at the end of the event, we will present the results of our Promoting circularity and sustainability for the construction and real estate sector (CircBuild) project.
We are delighted to announce that the Final Seminar is held in Brussels at the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU)’s office on the 1st of December 2026 at 11:00-16:30 thanks to Olga Wessels, the Head of Brussels’ Office of the ECIU.
The circular economy in the real estate and construction industry is researched and developed worldwide. How can these lessons be better utilised in the businesses of Finnish companies? What does the industry require to adapt to the changes brought about by the circular economy and regenerative thinking? These are some of the questions that emerged at the workshop “The development of the circular economy in Finland and around the world – from interest in practice” in Pasila.
Learning new ways to generate circularity in the built environment is an important factor towards success as is sharing these ideas with people aiming towards the same goal. Tampere University and Häme University of Applied Sciences HAMK co-project Promoting circularity and sustainability for the construction and real estate sector (CircBuild) ventured to Italy in search of innovative thinking, circularity and research.
Tampere University and Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK)’s Promoting circularity and sustainability for the construction and real estate sector (CircBuild) co-project shed light on the preliminary results of its pilot studies and mapped the preexisting knowledge on the circular economy in its first workshop. The circular economy seems to be of interest to the Real Estate and Construction Industry, as the workshop quickly gained almost twenty participants.
Read the news published by the Tampere University to find out how the project team’s trip to Brussels and Antwerp went and what kind of insights and outcomes we brought back with us.
Read the Tampere University’s news article to find out how the collaboration with the companies involved as partners and funders of the project has started.
In the announcement, you can read comments from the project managers about the upcoming project and get to know the project team.
Follow us on social media!
Check out HAMK’s social media channels focusing on research!
Contact information
The project manager for the project is Jaakko Kinnunen from Tampere University. The project manager for HAMK’s portion of the project is Olli Koskela.
Contact Information for Tampere University
Jaakko Kinnunen
Project Manager, Faculty of Built Environment
jaakko.kinnunen@tuni.fi
Juha Franssila
Doctoral Researcher, Faculty of Built Environment
juha.franssila@tuni.fi
Raul Castano De la Rosa
Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Built Environment
raul.castanodelarosa@tuni.fi
Alisa Hakola
Researcher, Faculty of Built Environment
alisa.hakola@tuni.fi
