Green deals are an effective way for companies to accelerate sustainable development and demonstrate their commitment to environmental responsibility. Their actions can achieve significant results for nature and the climate.
Green deals are voluntary, fixed-term agreements between the state, business and municipalities. They aim to accelerate the achievement of environmental goals such as climate change mitigation, biodiversity protection and enhancement, sustainable use of natural resources and a circular economy.
For companies, the Green Deal offers an opportunity to make a practical impact without new regulation – by developing solutions themselves that support sustainable development. At the same time, they strengthen their competitiveness and responsibility work. In the construction industry, customers and clients already demand environmental product declarations (EPDs), low-carbon solutions and transparent reporting – the same things that Green Deals also promote. Green Deals can also make the implementation of legislation more efficient and set even more ambitious goals than required by law.
Green deal builds cooperation and innovation
The construction industry is one of Finland's largest consumers of materials and sources of carbon dioxide emissions. The industry has enormous potential to promote many environmental goals. For example, reducing the use of virgin aggregates and the life cycle of buildings, material choices and waste management offer ways to make an impact.
The strength of Green Deal agreements lies in promoting cooperation between different parties – the state, companies and municipalities. Cooperation is needed, as construction projects always involve many parties and stakeholders. The agreements enable faster reactions to changing circumstances and current common challenges. Companies that commit to them can, for example, develop innovative operating models, test new technologies and scale solutions without a burdensome regulatory process. This can open up an agile development path for, for example, energy-efficient structural solutions, low-carbon materials or modular construction methods.
Green deal agreements in which RT is involved
The Finnish Construction Industry Association (RT), which represents construction companies, is involved in two green deals. In these deals, it commits to improving its members' knowledge base, collecting data on the achievement of goals, and encouraging members to participate.
- BUILDING PLASTICS -GREEN DEAL (contracting parties include the Ministry of the Environment, RT, Plastics Industry and the Association of Local and Regional Authorities) for the years 2020−2027 is part of the actions of the national plastics roadmap. The goal is to reduce the consumption of film plastics through various means. The Construction Plastics online training supports the achievement of this goal. The training includes 10 free modules, which you can find From Motiva's website.
- FOR THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY GREEN DEAL RT was the first industry to leave in September 2025. RT members can participate easily through a common umbrella commitment – join in! The company commits to setting targets for procurement, resource utilization and circular economy. In return, it receives a tool and training to track its progress. When enough companies participate, the construction industry significantly supports the program's strategic vision: Finland will be a carbon-neutral circular economy society by 2035.
Other upcoming contracts in the construction industry
The construction sector is also closely related to the green deal agreements, which concern emissions from the construction machinery sector (contracting parties: the Ministry of the Environment and the Finnish Technical Trade Association), sustainable demolition (contracting parties: the Ministry of the Environment and Rakli), emission-free construction sites (contracting parties: the Ministry of the Environment, Senate Properties, Espoo, Helsinki, Turku and Vantaa) and municipal wastewater treatment (contracting parties: the Ministry of the Environment, the Finnish Waterworks Association and the Finnish Association of Local and Regional Authorities).
Highlights from current news
Do you want your company to be among the leaders in the circular economy?
For Finnfoam, the green deal is part of long-term development work to embed the circular economy
When Skanska set circular economy goals for itself, learning across the entire organization emerged as a common thread.
GRK combines the circular economy green deal with its own strategic goals – the model was found in Kalasatama, Helsinki
RT draws up its own circular economy green deal commitment and challenges the entire construction industry to follow suit
Towards a sustainable circular economy of plastics with the Green Deal
Elsewhere online
For more information – please contact us if your company wants to make its own green deal commitment.
Tuuli Kunnas
Standardization manager, product manager
tuuli.kunnas@rt.fi + 358 40 172 0073Rakennustuoteollisuus RTT ry