Environmental awareness and sustainable consumption
A comprehensive transition to the circular economy requires the adoption of a circular economy approach in all of the city’s activities – not only for investments and procurements, but also for the maintenance and use of existing resources. The environmental impacts of consumption are mitigated by keeping products in use and in circulation for as long as possible through maintenance, repair, joint use and sharing. Product maintenance and refurbishment also provide employment opportunities for those in a weak position on the labour market as well as internship and skills demonstration opportunities for students.
According to Helsinki City Strategy 2021–2025, Helsinki wants to facilitate Helsinki residents’ own opportunities to make eco-friendly choices in their daily lives. In addition to sharing its own resources, the city can also share information on circular and sharing economy services as well as sustainable consumption choices through various channels.
Circular economy goals
| 2020–2025 | 2026–2030 | 2031–2035 |
| The competence of the city’s personnel in circular economy and sustainable solutions has increased. Helsinki residents have become more aware of circular and sharing economy services. | The city prioritises solutions that keep products and materials in use and in circulation for as long as possible. Residents and visitors use the available sharing and circular economy services actively and extensively. | All of the city’s activities follow the principles of circular economy; resources are utilised efficiently through, for example, joint use and sharing, and the amount of waste has decreased. Sustainable consumption is part of residents’ everyday life. |
Measures
| Measure | Parties responsible | Schedule |
| 15. Organise training on the circular and sharing economy for the city’s employees and decision-makers and for the region’s tourism and event organisers. Communicate actively and extensively on topical issues related to the circular economy. | Services and Permits/Environmental Services, City Executive Office, all divisions and public enterprises | 2020 -> |
| 16. Create a common operating model for the city organisation aimed at comprehensive reuse of movable property. Implement the operating model by actively communicating the matter and by organising training for personnel. | Services and Permits/Environmental Services, Stara, all divisions and public enterprises | 2022–2025 |
| 17.Reduce food waste in the operations of the Education Division, the Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division and food service providers. • Involve pupils in reducing food waste. • Increase cooperation between customers and food service providers to identify the factors affecting the generation of food waste. • Develop criteria aimed at reducing food waste in food service procurement. • Conduct regular monitoring of food waste. • Promote the sale of surplus food. | Education Division, Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division, Palvelukeskus Helsinki | 2023 -> |
| 18. Investigate the possibilities for creating an operating model for the utilisation of surplus food from schools and educational institutes and restaurants. • Identify potential partners. • Prepare guidance to support the utilisation of surplus food. | Stadin Safka, Education Division, Palvelukeskus Helsinki | 2023–2025 |
| 19. In cooperation with divisions prepare planning principles aimed at the smoother use of premises by residents. • The purpose of the planning principles is to describe the factors to be taken into account in the construction projects of the city’s new and renovated properties. • The principles guide planning: How much and what kind of premises are equipped with equipment and/or placement in the building suitable for use by residents. • The principles describe how procurements take into account the integration of the facility reservation system into the building automation in new and renovated buildings. • The principles describe how the integration of access control and locking into the facility reservation system is taken into account in procurements. • Divisions incorporate the principles into their own planning guidelines and descriptions of needs. • Preparation is done as a part of the management model of the space reservation entity. | Buildings and Public Areas/Premises, Culture and Leisure Division, all divisions | 2022–2025 |
| 20. Promote sharing and joint use of goods and services. • The city communicates through various channels about the activities of libraries and other activities related to sharing and joint use, such as the possibilities of using the city’s premises by residents. • Libraries monitor the carbon footprint of book loans. • Libraries promote climate and environmental literature, for example through ecology-themed bookshelves, exhibitions and events. • The City Executive Office will develop a reservation system to support the joint use of the city’s event production equipment. | Culture and Leisure Division/Library Department, Services and Permits/Environmental Services, City Executive Office, Forum Virium Helsinki | 2022 -> |
| 21. Maintain and develop the circular economy section of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area service map and communicate it to residents and tourists. Support the expansion of the concept to other municipalities in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. | Services and Permits/Environmental Services, City Executive Office | 2022 -> |
| 22. Further develop the concept of the circular economy event organised in 2022 and organise various circular economy events for Helsinki residents. | Services and Permits/Environmental Services, all divisions and public enterprises | 2023 -> |
| 23. Implement a circular economy programme for tourism and events (especially hotels and restaurants). The programme comprises the following seven components, which will be supplemented as appropriate: • Promote the adoption of the Think Sustainably service in companies. • Promote the introduction of external certification by supporting companies through training, workshops and possible financial support (project funding or other external actors). • Promote the introduction of the Sustainable Travel Finland programme in companies. • Conduct a study on the circular economy in hotels, including waste sorting (including composting), reduction of single-use plastics and reduction of food waste. • Hold an event related to the circular economy for companies in the tourism and event sectors at least once a year. • Disseminate good practices through various information channels. • Increase cooperation both within the city organisation and with outside actors (e.g. educational institutions, non-governmental organisations). | City Executive Office | 2023 -> |