YIT Advances Circular Economy Pilot Block in Vallila
YIT’s Circular Economy Pilot Block 697 in Vallila, Helsinki, is entering a significant new phase of development. The project now includes the careful removal of reusable materials from existing buildings, alongside the opening of a dedicated circular economy store. This phase marks a major milestone in YIT’s broader strategy to implement circular economy principles in urban development. In addition, YIT is collaborating with Stadin AO and the Helsinki Vocational College to create an educational program that teaches circular economy practices to future construction professionals.
Reuse and Material Recovery at the Pilot Block
During the ongoing development, YIT is focusing on the intact removal of as many interior materials as possible from the block’s vacant buildings. These materials, ranging from furniture to construction components, are carefully extracted to ensure they remain in usable condition. The goal is to extend the life cycle of materials and reduce the environmental footprint of the construction process.
Once removed, these materials are made available to the public through a newly opened circular economy store located within the Vallila pilot block. The store also operates online via www.store.spolia.fi, allowing wider access to high-quality second-hand building components. By providing both physical and digital channels for reuse, YIT ensures that valuable materials find new purposes rather than being discarded.
Collaboration with Spolia Design Oy
The circular economy store is operated in partnership with Spolia Design Oy, a company specializing in second-hand construction components. Spolia tests, refurbishes, and documents all items for sale, providing a two-year warranty on products. This approach guarantees both the quality and safety of reused materials, encouraging construction professionals and private buyers to adopt sustainable practices confidently.
Benjamin Kalliola, Project Director at YIT, emphasizes the broader ambition of the pilot: “In this project, we are developing practical operating models and processes for reuse. The goal is not only to recycle and sell materials but to create a comprehensive circular economy ecosystem in collaboration with partners and industry actors. This ecosystem aims to promote circularity in a way that creates value for all stakeholders.”
Educational Collaboration with Stadin AO
Alongside material recovery efforts, the Vallila pilot block serves as a learning environment for construction students. YIT has initiated a collaboration with Stadin AO, which aims to integrate hands-on circular economy practices into vocational education. Students are introduced to real-world applications of resource reuse and sustainable construction processes under the guidance of YIT and Spolia experts.
The collaboration also explores the development of a new study module focused on circular construction. Pekka Natunen, a construction teacher at Stadin AO, explains, “We are testing the structure and feasibility of the planned study modules in Vallila. The module, based on work‑based learning, could include topics such as circularity principles, resource efficiency in construction, material flows and usability, as well as safe working practices with environmental considerations.”
This educational component ensures that future construction professionals are equipped with the knowledge and practical experience needed to implement circular economy principles throughout their careers.
Guiding Principles of Circular Economy
The Vallila pilot block is developed with circular economy principles more comprehensively than any previous urban project in Finland. The design emphasizes the use of the existing building stock, supplemented with partial new construction where necessary. By prioritizing the reuse of materials and structures, the project significantly reduces the consumption of natural resources and minimizes construction waste.
In addition to material reuse, the project integrates environmental solutions such as stormwater and nutrient circulation within the block’s infrastructure. The design also aims to increase the block’s green factor, supporting urban biodiversity and improving local ecological conditions. These measures reinforce YIT’s commitment to sustainable urban development while demonstrating practical applications of circular economy principles in a city context.
Expanding the Circular Economy in Construction
The Vallila pilot block serves as a testbed for YIT’s circular economy initiatives in the construction sector. The pilot is expected to generate insights into practical processes for dismantling, refurbishing, and reusing building components. These insights can then inform larger-scale circular economy strategies in future urban development projects.
By documenting and standardizing reuse processes, YIT aims to make circular construction methods more accessible to other developers and contractors. The combination of educational programs, operational stores, and practical pilot projects creates a holistic approach that addresses both the supply and demand sides of the circular economy.
Reducing Carbon Footprint and Resource Use
One of the core objectives of the Vallila pilot block is to reduce the use of natural resources and promote low-carbon construction practices. By recovering and reusing materials, the project helps decrease demand for new raw materials, thereby reducing associated energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
This approach aligns with YIT’s long-term sustainability goals, which include integrating circular economy practices across its portfolio. The Vallila project demonstrates how urban development can move beyond traditional recycling efforts and embed circular principles throughout the design, construction, and operational phases of a building.
Community Engagement and Accessibility
The circular economy store at Vallila not only provides materials for construction professionals but also engages the local community in sustainability initiatives. By offering high-quality second-hand materials through a public-facing platform, YIT encourages residents and businesses to participate in circular economy practices.
The online store expands this reach even further, allowing people across Finland to access reusable materials and learn about sustainable construction practices. This dual approach ensures that the benefits of material reuse extend beyond the immediate project site, fostering a wider culture of circularity.
Next Steps and Future Plans
Currently, the Vallila block remains in the development phase, with the careful removal of reusable materials ongoing. The zoning proposal for the block is scheduled to be publicly available in spring 2026, marking another step forward in the project’s implementation.
As the project progresses, YIT will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of its circular economy processes and explore new opportunities for collaboration with educational institutions, industry partners, and the local community. The insights gained from Vallila are expected to inform future circular construction projects across Helsinki and beyond.
Source link: https://www.yitgroup.com/
