Let’s Talk Reuse – Circular Building Materials over Coffee

Welcome to our first brainstorming session on the reuse of building materials!
Thursday 2 October 2025, 14:00-16:00
Emmaus conference room, Skogshyddsvägen 7, Mariehamn, Åland Islands

14:00 Presentation of the project Waste to Value
Bernt Bergman (Project Manager, Emmaus Åland) and Edvin Salminen (Reuse Expert, Emmaus Åland)

14:15 Discussion

In November 2025, construction will begin on a brand-new reuse facility at Svinryggen in Jomala, Åland Islands – set to open by Midsummer 2026. This facility will be open to everyone – construction companies, craftsmen, municipalities, and private individuals – and aims to become a central hub for giving building materials a second life.

During this afternoon, we’ll explore how materials from demolition, renovation, and new construction can be collected, sorted, and reused rather than discarded. We’ll discuss how the new facility can collaborate with the construction sector to enable reuse – through solutions like smarter material flows, transport services, container loans, and on-site sorting.

We’ll also address key challenges such as logistics, safety and regulations, and explore how they can be tackled together.

Whether you’re a construction professional, a sustainability advocate or a passionate DIYer, if you care about reuse – you’re welcome.