Rakennusteollisuus prepares a responsibility program to guide responsibility work at the industry level

The construction industry RT has made a materiality analysis to find out the overall picture of the industry's responsibility and significant responsibility themes from the eyes of stakeholders. The work continues by drawing up a responsibility program, which aims to reduce the harmful effects of construction and create new opportunities for sustainable business.

In construction, responsibility is, for example, occupational safety, cleanliness of the work environment and waste sorting.

"When you take into account the severity of the climate crisis and the loss of nature, as well as the significant impact of the construction industry on the well-being of the environment, people and the economy, it is a moral necessity for us to reduce the harm caused by our activities and increase the benefits", director Merja Vuoripuro The construction industry from RT says.

The built environment and construction have an exceptionally great social significance. The share of employed people is 20 percent, of investments 60 percent, and of energy and raw material consumption and emissions about a third.

Rakennusteollisuus RT implements a responsibility program this year, which sets goals and determines measures and metrics for the development of responsible business. The starting point is the construction industry's significant responsibility themes, which have been identified through materiality analysis and stakeholder dialogue.

In terms of environmental responsibility, climate change, use of resources, life cycle responsibility and innovative construction were screened as essential responsibility themes. In terms of social responsibility, expertise and diversity, as well as the comfort of housing and living, took center stage. In terms of financial responsibility, the most important are sustainable value chains and social responsibility.

"We have already implemented low-carbon and biodiversity roadmaps that show the industry the direction towards carbon neutrality and a nature-positive transition. This spring, we will update the low-carbon road map. In addition, for more than a decade, we have done systematic work to improve occupational safety and prevent the gray economy and labor-related exploitation, among other things," says Vuoripuro.

"Now it is important to focus our further work also on other factors of responsibility, where the industry's impact and opportunities are greatest and where we are able to improve the most."

The entire value chain of construction is under review

The materiality analysis carried out during autumn 2023 consisted of different work phases: background investigation, mapping of future phenomena, a comprehensive online survey aimed at member companies and external stakeholders, as well as interviews with key stakeholders and an expert workshop.

In the materiality analysis, the double materiality principle was used, i.e. the negative and positive effects of the industry on each responsibility theme, as well as the economic risks and opportunities for the industry related to the themes were taken into account.

"We look at the entire value chain of construction, from land use planning to construction and all the way to reuse, as well as the wider value network connected to these. In cooperation with different parties, we can promote responsible operating methods of the entire chain of construction", the responsible lawyer Ville Wartiovaara says.

"Taking over responsibility in the entire value chain is one of the priorities of our strategy. Our own role is to support and encourage our member companies in their responsibility work by producing and communicating information, organizing training, indicating direction and influencing regulation. We also bring together companies and other actors to develop responsibility", says Wartiovaara.

Gaia Consulting is a partner in the construction industry RT's materiality analysis and responsibility program. The responsibility program is financed by the TT foundation.