In the first year of implementation of our industry-wide sustainability program in 2025, we have taken responsibility forward on many fronts. We have implemented development projects and made commitments, promoted sustainable and ethical practices, and provided our member companies with a variety of training and guidance.
In terms of environmental impacts, we have focused on our strategic responsibility themes of climate, biodiversity and circular economy. We have, among other things, prepared a knowledge bank, guide and training on low-carbon construction and made a green deal ceiling commitment for the circular economy. In 2026, we will conduct a mid-term review of the biodiversity roadmap to see whether we are on the right path and moving towards the nature goals.
To increase the diversity and well-being of personnel working in the construction sector, we have, for example, paid attention to emotional skills and psychological safety, made a commitment against racism, and changed the job titles in collective agreements to be gender-neutral. We are planning guidelines, training and joint projects with industry associations for 2026.
The most significant project in our transparent and fair value chain responsibility theme this year has been #KIRAriskDD, which has developed a due diligence procedure for managing environmental and human rights risks in building materials. The joint project between different parties in the value chain has progressed to practical piloting in companies, from which we will receive results in the spring.
We have organized several training courses on sustainability reporting and the requirements of responsibility regulations throughout the year to facilitate the development of operating methods, especially for small and medium-sized member companies.
And are these actions at all sufficient in relation to the goals and challenges that are the fate of the entire construction industry and our planet?
This year too, we have come across gross cases of labor-related exploitation, read accident investigation reports about safety neglect, heard about harassment against women, studied the Tax Administration's report on gray economy risk actors in public procurement, and felt great inadequacy about the slow progress of both Finnish and global climate and nature goals.
“You can only eat an elephant one piece at a time,” said a South African archbishop who was once known as an opponent of apartheid and a defender of human rights. Desmond Tutu. With this, he described how achieving seemingly overwhelming changes requires long-term work and patience. Although the saying is outdated, it encourages us to move forward step by step, no matter how small they seem in relation to the goal.
It is also worth eating an elephant together. Responsibility must be examined and developed throughout the value chain, on the same front with other actors in the real estate and construction industry. We have worked on joint projects with, among others, the KIRA growth program, KIRAHub, Rakl, Rala, RTS and FIGBC, and have collaborated with large cities and WWF to stop and restore nature loss.
The critical link in the chain are our member companies, whose daily actions determine how the construction industry carries out its responsibility. We see around us truly committed and dedicated companies that are solving tomorrow's problems today.
According to the updated goal of RT's mid-term strategy review, we will make responsibility a competitive advantage for the industry. To achieve this, we need the contribution of every company, each according to their abilities, even if it is just a tuft of an elephant's tail.
The authors lead RT's responsibility team and are responsible for coordinating the Construction Industry's responsibility program.
See also
- Summary of 2025 sustainability activities (pdf)
- Responsibility theme page and, among other things, the construction industry responsibility program
Merja Vuoripuro
Director, Communications and Responsibility
merja.vuoripuro@rt.fi + 358 40 587 2642Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries (CFCI)
Ville Wartiovaara
Executive Vice President, Regional Director
ville.wartiovaara@rt.fi + 358 40 564 7939Talonrakennusteollisuus ry, Uusimaa
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