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World Green Building Week is celebrated from 12 to 16 September, and we are involved in promoting the campaign for a sustainable built environment. In accordance with our sustainability promise, we at Ruukki also feel our responsibility for future generations. We are constantly developing our offering and operations so that we can offer carbon-neutral building products to our customers as soon as possible.
Theme #BuildingforEveryone
The World Green Building Council organizes the campaign annually, together with more than 70 national Green Building Councils and their 36,000 members. This year, the campaign focuses on the green transition in the spirit of the UN climate change conference COP27 held in November, and takes into account especially those who have not even been born yet. That's why the theme of the campaign is #BuildingforEveryone.
"At Ruukki, we know that our building products affect people's well-being today, but our actions also have an impact on future generations. That is why we strive to ensure that we follow the principles of sustainable development throughout the entire life cycle of our products," says Tuovi Palojärvi, Ruukki Construction's manager responsible for environmental and Sustainability issues.
At Ruukki, implementing the principles of sustainable development means, for example, that the products we manufacture are long-lasting and energy-efficient. We give our roofing products a guarantee of up to 50 years, and Ruukki's load-bearing structures and wall panels last for decades. In addition, our high-quality products and overall solutions based on them ensure that buildings consume as little energy as possible. This reduces the carbon footprint of the building’s use phase.
From father to son
“Even if we are planning buildings for the next 50 to 100 years, we should still consider the next generations and take responsibility for the end of life of building products. The products should be easy to dismantle and recycle – or even reuse if the building is dismantled before the end of the products’ technical service life. All material should be utilized as raw material to produce new products and avoid landfill waste,” says Jyrki Kesti, Technology Director at Ruukki Construction.
Ruukki strives for holistic thinking, which starts with the sustainable use of raw materials and energy and continues until the recyclability of the product. We choose sustainable raw materials, minimize raw material waste and ensure that the products can be recycled at the end of their life cycle. We strive to manufacture the products close to the customer and streamline logistics so that emissions from transportation remain as low as possible. In addition, we ensure that the products can be recycled at the end of their life cycle.
"For example, Ruukki® Life Energy panels meet the customers' sustainability criteria well. Our energy panel concept improves the air tightness of the building and reduces its energy consumption, but the carbon footprint of the production of the panels is no bigger than that of standard panels. More than 70 percent of the insulation in Ruukki® Life panels is recycled glass, which has little environmental impact. Combined with the durable coatings, this makes our panels environmentally friendly, and they are designed to last for decades," Jyrki Kesti continues.
The most recycled raw material in use
Ruukki's products are based on steel, which is the most recycled material in the world. At the end of their life cycle, steel-based products are 100% recyclable. Insulation materials can also be used as a raw material for new insulation materials or other mineral-based products. In addition to recyclability, the carbon footprint of buildings can be reduced by choosing products that can be reused. For example, Sandwich panels are very easy to install and remove, so when needs change, buildings can be easily adapted.
Ideally, the production of the product uses as few natural resources as possible and only a small amount of carbon is committed to it. That is why Ruukki is at the forefront of developing building products from SSAB's fossil-free steel.
"Our goal is to be the first to offer fossil-free building products for roofs and walls by 2026. Their total carbon emissions will be about 85% lower than of similar products today," Tuovi Palojärvi concludes.
Read more about the campaign at: https://worldgbc.org/world-green-building-week-2022