Green Building Council Finland

We are Finland’s most influential and extensive co-operation network for a sustainable built environment. Together with our member organisations, we bring carbon neutrality, circularity, and sustainable lifestyle solutions as a natural part to all real estate and construction business.

Our goal is that the built environment is a key part of solving climate change. Strong expertise and inclusive cooperation are at the heart of our operations. The operating environment in our sector is complex: there are a large number of actors, as well as numerous environmental commitments and certifications. Green Building Council Finland makes these matters easier to understand.

We’ll provide a vision of our industry’s future and how it will affect your operations. In addition, we’ll provide concrete tools to support your climate work as well as a reference group committed to same goals.

Our impact consists of the vision of our experts and our international network, as well as participatory collaboration. We bring together best practices from across the value chain. We aim to create a common understanding on promoting a sustainable built environment.

Green Building Council Finland shows direction and helps along the way.

Please note: because the language used in FIGBC is Finnish, not all information is translated into English. Should you have any questions, the personnel would be more than happy to help. Please contact us via e-mail: info(at)figbc.fi.

Strategy

Our thematic emphases for the years 2018-2022 are carbon neutrality, circular economy, and more sustainable life.

FIGBC also continues its deep-rooted basic function as well as enhances its operational readiness.

From the very beginning, the basic function of the association has included for example active committee work, communication, developing tools that advance sustainability, and advancing the sustainable development in its entirety. The core of the operation is local and international cooperation that is concise and brings together different points of view.

Enhancing the operational readiness is necessary to achieve the thematic emphases, to answer the needs of members, and to ensuring the effectiveness of the operation.

CARBON NEUTRALITY: FIGBC brings carbon neutrality to the awareness of the agents of the building and construction industry. The association also gathers the collective view of the industry in order to encourage the agents to set themselves goals in achieving carbon neutrality and starting to administrate their actions to achieve the goals.

Why: The building and construction industry is widely moving towards life cycle development. Instead of only thinking about energy efficiency, a carbon footprint considering and minimizing the whole life cycle of a building is about to emerge. The goal is that in the future building new and utilizing existing infrastructure is carbon neutral and based on recycled materials and renewable energy. In Finland, the worldwide battle against climate change can concretely be seen for example in how many major cities have set themselves strict goals to work carbon neutrally by the year 2030. Same with organizations: they work determinedly regardless of the industry with for example investments, and public organizations find means to direct towards carbon neutrality. Cities and built environment play a major role in moving towards a carbon neutral society.

How: FIGBC effectuates and participates in development projects regarding carbon neutrality as well as promotes the utilization of tools.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY: FIGBC concretizes the meaning of the circular economy in the built environment and activates the agents of the industry to develop and offer new products and services that are based on circular economy.

Why: The building and construction industry spends globally 40 % of materials and causes over a third of greenhouse gas emissions. The possibilities of circular economy in building and construction industry are vast and new business chances can be seen. Many of the national and international agents (such as the EU) strongly support the transition to circular economy. World GBC and the GBCs of many countries work determinedly amongst circular economy.

The concrete meaning of circular economy in construction industry has not yet been established, and right now is the “momentum” to solve this case.

How: FIGBC has a great position and basis to strongly act as the agent that defines and concretizes circular economy – also via international co-operation.

FIGBC effectuates the circular economy sprint as well as tests the Levels framework and promotes its use.

MORE SUSTAINABLE LIFE: FIGBC promotes the transition towards a sustainable urban life that is enabled by the built environment while focusing on people in the center of sustainability.

Why: A sustainable built environment is not only energy efficient and functional in the technical sense – it also is genuinely user-friendly and creates wellbeing.

The built environment is at a historical turning point: the networks are digitalized and enable a better planning, service experience and participation in creating a sustainable city.

A change in the market towards sustainability is happening for example in energy efficiency and emission efficiency, and in the following years the pace of change will likely increase.

FIGBC can help its members and the surrounding society to reach the crest of environment-friendly construction, living, and lifestyle.

The built environment must support the urban sustainable lifestyle. The quality of life must be emphasized, and the people must be at the center of attention.

How: FIGBC expands the concept of green.

The association emphasizes the possibilities of residents, customers and users to make a difference.

It also promotes the renewal of cities to enable a sustainable life.

Impartial cooperation to promote sustainability

Professional real estate owners, developers, occupants, facility managers, planners, designers, contractors, and commercial and industrial enterprises can apply for membership in Green Building Council Finland.

Our impact consists of the vision of our experts and our network.

Our committees are networks of professionals formed by members of FIGBC.

In these committees industry professionals address current topics, look for opportunities to work together, and share the experience their organization has of the best practices promoting sustainability. The committees work with both the public and private sector and collaborate on projects.

The committees are open for all members of FIGBC. Read more about our committees.

The World Green Building Council network

The national Green Building Councils around the world are non-profit, non-governmental organizations that promote sustainable building practices. Green Building Council Finland and the other national Councils belong to the worldwide Green Building Council network.

For more information on World Green Building Council, please visit www.worldgbc.org.