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.
The Finnish Construction Industry Association (RT), which represents construction companies, is a party to two green deals, in which it commits to improving its members' knowledge base, collecting data on the achievement of goals, and encouraging members to participate:
- CIRCULAR ECONOMY GREEN DEAL
RT was the first industry to join in September 2025. Member companies can participate through RT's umbrella commitment.- The company commits to setting goals for its operations and in return receives a tool and training to monitor its progress.
- When enough companies are involved, our industry supports the strategic vision: Finland will become a carbon-neutral circular economy society by 2035.
- Which companies are already involved? Look here and bring your own business – registration is ongoing!
- BUILDING PLASTICS -GREEN DEAL
The contracting parties in this green deal for the years 2020−2027 include the Ministry of the Environment, RT, the Plastics Industry and the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities.- The Green Deal is part of the national plastics roadmap. The goal is to reduce the consumption of plastic films through various means.
- The free Construction Plastics online training supports you in achieving your goal; you will find 10 modules in it. From Motiva's website.
- More information about green deals: Juha Laurila ja Tuuli Kunnas
Green deals also affect construction emissions from the construction machinery industry (contracting parties: Ministry of the Environment and the Finnish Technical Trade Association), sustainable demolition (contracting parties: Ministry of the Environment and Rakli), emission-free construction sites (contracting parties include the Ministry of the Environment, Senate Properties, Espoo, Helsinki, Turku, Vantaa) and municipal wastewater treatment (contracting parties: Ministry of the Environment, Waterworks Association and the Association of Local and Regional Authorities).
What are green deals all about?
Voluntary, fixed-term green deals are concluded between the state, business and municipalities. The aim is to accelerate the achievement of environmental goals such as climate change mitigation, protection and enhancement of biodiversity, sustainable use of natural resources and 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 even set 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. This is needed, as there are always many parties and stakeholders in construction projects. The agreements enable a rapid response 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 new solutions, materials or methods.
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