Available online: https://pub.norden.org/nord2023-031/ Nordic Network for circular construction. Report from work package 2 about barriers and possibilites within circular construction, A state of the art report from the five Nordic countries, The situation in the countries during 2018-2022.

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2023-504/ The Nordic region aims to be a forerunner in the transition to circular economy. This project aimed to find areas, industries, and sectors, and potential in them, important for the circular transition in the Nordics. The barriers for unleashing the potential were also studied.Four areas of industry and two cross-cutting drivers were selected for the study. The bioeconomy, the food and beverage sector, building and construction, and the mobility sector play a prominent role in the Nordic economies. They are also responsible for significant emissions and waste. The drivers – applying new circular business models and better exploiting data/digitalisation – can bring change that holds promise for significant benefits.The study’s results are summed up in a set of recommendations addressing how the barriers can be torn down and how positive impacts of circular transition can be supported.

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2023-544/ This publication addresses the challenges in managing Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) in the Nordic countries including an outlook on other European countries. Despite a 70% recovery target, the Nordics lag behind due to economic, legislative, and social barriers. The study emphasizes the need for better CDW statistics and highlights successful European initiatives. Key findings include that the barriers do not seem to be technical feasibility, but rather include economic obstacles, and regional variations in recycling. Recommendations include unified approaches, regulations, and stronger incentives for reuse and recycling of CDW. The study advocates waste prevention through reuse and design strategies for future constructions, emphasizing collaboration within the Nordics and the EU.

Circular Economy in the Construction Industry is an invaluable resource for researchers, policymakers, implementers and PhD and Masters-level students in universities analyzing the present status of Construction and Demolition Wastes (C&DW) management, materials development utilizing slag, fly ash, HDPE fibre, geo-wastes, and other wastes, green concrete, soil stabilization, resource circulation in construction sectors, success in experimentation & commercial production, future needs, and future research areas. While huge C&DW is wasted by dumping, there is potential of recycling preventing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and environmental pollution as well as creating business opportunities. Circularity of resources in the construction industry can contribute to a more secure, sustainable, and economically sound future through proper policy instruments, management systems, and recycling by selecting the following: Supply chain sustainability and collection of C&D Wastes, Appropriate separation and recycling technology, Enforcement of policy instruments, Productivity, quality control of recycled products and intended end use, Economic feasibility as business case, commercialization, generating employment. This book addresses most of the above issues in a lucid manner by experts in the field from different countries, which are helpful for the related stakeholders, edited by experts in the field.

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2021-508/ The national strategies for a circular economy set the overall targets for implementation of circular economy in the country. Putting theory into practice via local strategies can be a good means for the transition towards a circular economy in the construction sector. Municipalities can set demands for CE solutions by requiring, e.g. the use of recycled and/or recyclable construction materials, the application of design for disassembly principles in construction and requiring resource mapping, and reuse and recycling in the demolition phase. The study identifies and presents cases and experiences from the implementation of CE concepts at the local level in the Nordic communities with a focus on construction, renovation and demolition. Barriers and drivers for the uptake of CE solutions are analysed, and enabling factors that could support the implementation of circular economy concepts and identified barriers in norms, legislation and guidelines are described. As part of the project, the project group gave 10 policy recommendations.

About the way we use and reuse the resources in the building industry and ultimately eliminate the concept of waste. The book seeks to provide inspiration for 'building a circular future' by providing a set of principles and bringing forward the best practices from in and outside the building industry. This book presents findings, case studies, background and context for the project ?Building a Circular Future?, and consist of three main chapters: Design for Disassembly, Material Passport and Circular Economy. All content comes from extensive research and through workshops with partners across industries. The book furthermore provides 15 principles for "Building a Circular Future" and a thoroughly calculated business case, which documents that a demolition, that today would cost ?2.151.249,56 can be turned into a ?4.705.858,41 business upside in a future circular building industry.

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/politiknord2022-724/ In 2019, the Nordic prime ministers adopted a vision for the Nordic Region to be the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by the year 2030. The Nordic Council of Ministers was tasked with steering Nordic co-operation towards delivering this vision. The Nordic Council of Ministers is following a special action plan in its efforts relating to the vision for the period 2021 to 2024. Now, after almost two years, a mid-point evaluation has been produced. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine during the period, the Nordic Council of Ministers has delivered concrete results and made an impact. The activities of the Nordic Council of Ministers are being steered towards supporting the Nordic countries as well as possible in their realisation of the vision. Efforts relating to the green transition have been bolstered by way of DKK 120 million in additional funding thanks to a budget redistribution in the period 2021 to 2024. The mid-point evaluation was approved by the Ministers for Nordic Co-operation in September 2022.

The working group on Sustainable Consumption and Production, under the Nordic Council of Ministers requested consultants from Gaia to identify, write out and publish best practice cases of sustainable consumption and production on the UNEP SCP Clearinghouse. This report presents nineteen initiatives that cover two particular themes: 1) Sustainable Lifestyles and Education and 2) Sustainable Public Procurement. The cases have also been added into the UNEP's 10 Year Frame-work Program (10YFP) information platform, the SCP Clearinghouse which is a concrete result of Rio+20. The objective is to enhance international cooperation in order to accelerate a shift towards sustainable consumption and production in developed and developing countries. The SCP Clearinghouse is a web-based information sharing tool, which can be used by different actors as an inspiration for advancing SCP worldwide.

This report provides a framework for circular procurement and discusses its possibilities to promote circular economy. Several best practice examples in Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway illustrate how and in which sectors and product groups circular procurement could be applicable. Different approaches to circular procurement and tendering criteria supporting circular aspects are also illustrated.The study was carried out in Nordic co-operation by Finnish Environment Institute, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute and Copenhagen Resource Institute. The project was financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM), administrated by the NCM Sustainable Consumption and Production Working Group and guided by a steering group consisting representatives from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

This book examines how research in construction economics and organization contributes to the achievement of the SDGs. Featuring selected contributions from the 11th Nordic Conference on Construction Economics and Organisation (CREON 2022) held in Copenhagen, Demark and Malmö, Sweden, the contributions of this book explore the ways in which research in construction economics and organization assists in building resilient infrastructure, fostering green innovations and contributes to sustainable economic growth. Each contribution relates to one or more individual SDG and describes how the research contributes to the understanding of construction management and economics.