Swedish Construction Industry Critiques Circular Economy Policies

The Swedish construction organization Byggföretagen has expressed strong criticism towards Boverket's recent report aimed at fostering a circular economy in the sector. They argue that the suggested measures are insufficient to achieve a truly circular and resource-efficient construction environment. Emma Bonnevier, a climate policy expert at Byggföretagen, emphasized that while the report recognizes critical hurdles such as the absence of standards for reused materials and uncertainties related to accountability and quality, it fails to provide actionable solutions for these known barriers.

Bonnevier highlighted that construction activities contribute nearly 40% of Sweden’s waste, indicating the urgent need for enhanced resource efficiency. She warned that to meet national climate goals, it is vital to improve the utilization of existing materials, which significantly affect emissions. Furthermore, Bonnevier called for the integration of advanced digital solutions—such as material inventories and resource mapping—critical for the sector's transition towards circularity.

Byggföretagen raised concerns about the exclusion of small and medium enterprises from the transition process, suggesting that their involvement is essential for meaningful progress. Additionally, they opposed proposals to separate resources from control plans and advocated for collaborative standards and reference values in renovation projects, aligned with both EU goals and Sweden’s renovation strategy. The organization also pointed out a noticeable lack of cooperation between Boverket and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency regarding waste and circular mass management issues.
As the industry grapples with these challenges, the call for more decisive actions from policymakers becomes increasingly pressing.