Material Flows and Circular Economy in Infrastructure Construction (InfraKierto)

The project produces an up-to-date overview of material and waste flows in infrastructure construction and develops models and tools for data generation to monitor circular economy Green Deal commitments, guide the sector, and support decision-making.
The project maps existing data sources, conducts sample studies at multiple sites, and pilots data generation methods.
The project’s results can be utilized in planning within the recycling business and construction development.

Soil and rock used in infrastructure construction account for the majority of Finland’s total material consumption; furthermore, infrastructure and transport network construction generate significant amounts of waste. Consequently, strengthening the circular economy within the infrastructure sector offers immense potential to improve material efficiency and reduce emissions and environmental impacts across the national economy. Promoting the circular economy in construction and earthworks management is a key element of Finland’s natural resource strategy and the achievement of its circular economy goals. This potential is recognized in both circular economy programs and among industry stakeholders: efficient management of material flows, and the utilization of side streams reduce transport and procurement costs, improve project profitability, and lower risks, all while minimizing environmental impacts. Companies and public organizations require up-to-date, reliable data on material flows to plan and manage their operations effectively. However, this is not currently possible. Data regarding material use in infrastructure construction is generated at various stages and by numerous actors, yet this information is not currently aggregated or utilized comprehensively anywhere. This creates a significant data gap affecting both national and regional coordination of earth materials and the monitoring of natural resource use and circular economy progress. Fragmented information and actual data gaps highlight the need for a shared, up-to-date, and coordinated database that would support both the promotion of the circular economy and the governance and reporting of the construction sector.

Without reliable and systematic data, it is impossible to monitor operations or evaluate the impact of various measures. Therefore, the project aims to develop tools and indicators for tracking material and waste flows and verifying circular economy impacts; these will enable the monitoring of progress in circular economy practices within infrastructure construction, as well as improvements in resource efficiency and reductions in natural resource consumption. A specific goal is to develop digital management systems for material flow data in infrastructure construction—supporting activities aimed at material circulation, such as reducing natural resource consumption and waste generation—thereby facilitating the implementation of circular economy "Green Deals."
A second objective of the project is to create the conditions necessary to advance the circular economy within the infrastructure construction sector. A better understanding of material flows and improved data quality will enable industry players to optimize production, streamline logistics, and reduce costs. Continuous monitoring of material and waste flows offers the opportunity to identify changes across the stages of production, consumption, and recycling, supporting more efficient resource management and process optimization. With this data, organizations can make informed decisions that boost economic profitability while simultaneously reducing emissions through a decreased need for virgin natural materials and more efficient material circulation.

The project aims to strengthen and support forms of collaboration that facilitate the development of broader solutions and operating models promoting a carbon-neutral circular economy. This collaboration encompasses municipalities, businesses, research institutes, and the third sector. Through voluntary commitments aligned with the goals of the circular economy Green Deal, the project seeks to identify shared operating models that address the use of non-renewable natural resources and foster a low-carbon circular economy.

Co-funded by the European Union