YIT strengthens its long-term work to promote the circular economy and commits to the Circular Economy Green Deal

The Ministry of the Environment, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland, have approved YIT's Green Deal commitment for the circular economy, which aims to reduce the use of natural resources and promote a low-carbon circular economy by 2035. The commitment strengthens YIT's long-term work to promote the circular economy and accelerates concrete actions in the reuse of construction material streams.

As part of the commitment, YIT undertakes to develop solutions for replacing virgin soil and aggregates with surplus masses and recycled aggregates. In particular, predictability and collaboration between the parties and stakeholders will be increased. In addition, YIT undertakes to develop its operations to increase the share of other reusable and recycled materials, along with identifying materials suitable for reuse and recycling from its projects and seeking applications for them. The aim is to integrate the principles of circular economy to all YIT's operations.

“The Green Deal commitment gives a boost to our circular economy work. Now we focus on making a leap in our own operations and we want to use existing building materials more extensively than before, making the circular economy a reality at YIT,” said Project Manager Sini Ruohoniemi, responsible for the Green Deal commitment for the circular economy at YIT.

In YIT's projects, different solution options are considered from the perspective of the circular economy, and in the future, a circular economy plan will be drawn up and monitored closely to ensure implementation. YIT has already implemented many circular economy solutions, of which here are a few examples:

• Gesterby School Center Wigge, Kirkkonummi: virgin soil and stone materials were replaced and concrete from the dismantled school was crushed and used on the plot for backfilling. This also significantly decreased the amount of energy and fuel needed for transporting the masses.
• Siilinlahti life cycle school, Siilinjärvi: concrete from the old school was utilized in the filling of the municipality's industrial area.
•  Aleksanterinkatu 13, Helsinki: the property's old copper roofing sheets, marble tiles, ceiling tiles, bricks and lamps were reused. In addition, used parquet flooring was brought from other sites, and tiles from a bankruptcy estate and the contractor's surplus stock were also utilized.
• Melkinlaituri life cycle school and daycare center, Helsinki: cavity slabs that have served for more than 40 years in another property were reused in first commercial projects in Finland.
• The circular economy brick was developed as a facade material for the Circular Economy Block in Jätkäsaari.
• YIT started the zoning of a block of about 1.5 hectares in Vallila, Helsinki. The project will serve as an important pilot for sustainable urban construction, circular economy solutions, and the utilization of material streams.

“With this Green Deal commitment, we want to strengthen not only our own operations, but also the entire industry. Circular economy solutions are created in collaboration with partners. We will put best practices from our previous projects into wider use, boldly try new things, learn as the project progresses, and share our successes and challenges openly,” said Property Development Director Benjamin Kalliola from YIT’s Urban Development team.

The Green Deal commitments are evaluated by an expert group, which includes the Finnish Environment Institute, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and the Natural Resources Institute Finland. The commitments are approved by the secretariat formed by the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Employment and the Economy.

See also:
Circular economy in construction | YIT.fi
Circular Economy Green Deal - Ministry of the Environment

Further information:
YIT Group Communications, tel. +358 44 743 7536, press@yit

YIT builds thriving living environments in Europe. For more than 110 years, we have made everyday life smoother by building homes for a good life, spaces where people and businesses can thrive, and infrastructure that supports the essential functions of society. We operate in seven countries and employ approximately 4,100 professionals. In 2025, our revenue was EUR 1.8 billion. YIT Corporation’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.

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