OUR SUSTAINABILITY GOALS
The Infrastrucure Programme Helsinki has set ambitious sustainability goals for the entire programme implementation. These targets apply to all projects under the programme: the West-Helsinki Light Rail project, The West Harbour Light Rail ja Viikki–Malmi Light Rail projects. The goals guide the programme toward its vision of “The world’s best and most sustainable urban development”. Through these sustainability goals, we aim to implement a programme that is carbon-aware, nature positive, resource-wise, promotes well-being, administratively and financially transparent, and foreseeing the future.
Carbon-aware
We identify the programme’s climate impacts and reduce its negative climate effects (measured in carbon dioxide equivalents) by developing improved design and implementation solutions. When making decisions, we consider climate impacts across the entire life-cycle.
What does carbon awareness mean in practice?
- We have identified the climate impacts of our projects, and we work to reduce them during planning, construction, and operation:
- Life‑cycle climate impacts are taken into account when comparing alternatives.
- We explore opportunities to use various low‑carbon materials and solutions. In particular, we aim to identify the most impactful and cost‑effective measures and integrate them into our practices.
- We reduce climate impacts during construction in accordance with the Green Deal emission‑free construction site criteria, which require the use of fossil‑free machinery on site. At least 20% of the listed construction machines must operate on electricity, biogas, or hydrogen.
How do we monitor carbon awareness?
- We compare the climate emissions of alternative implementation solutions during both planning and construction, taking into account the full life‑cycle impacts.
- Based on preliminary emission estimates and experience from previous projects, we set project‑specific targets for reducing the carbon footprint.
- During construction, we collect data on actual fuel and material consumption. This information is used to verify the results of the final emission calculations and to assess whether the carbon‑reduction target has been achieved.
Nature Positive
We enhance biodiversity and improve the urban environment’s ability to adapt to climate change compared to the baseline situation.
What does nature positivity mean in practice?
- We increase biodiversity and strengthen the urban environment’s ability to adapt to climate change in the areas being developed, compared to the current state.
- We remove only the trees that are strictly necessary and plant a diverse range of new vegetation, taking climate change into account.
- We improve the quality of habitats, for example by creating green tram stops and converting lawns into meadows.
- We use planting choices that are aligned with the local landscape
How do we monitor nature positivity?
Green Factor
- Biodiversity development is monitored using area‑specific Green Factors, by comparing the situation before construction to the final state.
- The area‑specific Green Factor consists of three values: a biodiversity value, a climate‑smart value, and a well‑being value.
Resource-wise
We enhance the circular use of materials, the reuse of soil masses, and the sustainable use of energy and water. We consider life‑cycle durability and life‑cycle costs in all our solutions.
What does resource wisdom mean in practice?
- Sustainable use of materials is ensured by considering their full life cycle, for example through reuse and recycling.
- Material efficiency is improved through design solutions.
- We aim to reduce transport distances and ensure that transports are carried out with full loads.
- We increase the reuse of existing street structures and minimise demolition.
- We identify and implement effective measures to reduce energy and water consumption.
How do we monitor resource wisdom in practice?
- We are developing a monitoring method for masses and materials that enables us to examine, for example, the efficiency of logistics chains.
Promoting well-being
We want to enhance the well‑being of residents, nature, and our teams. We take the needs of city residents into account equally and actively work to reduce the disturbances caused during construction.
What does promoting well‑being mean in practice?
- We identify and work to minimise disturbances during construction for the neighbourhood, traffic, and the environment.
- We consider the needs of city residents fairly.
- We invest in the well‑being, safety, and skills development of our employees and partners.
How do we monitor the promotion of well‑being?
- We are developing social sustainability indicators that allow us to monitor, for example, stakeholder participation and their experience of urban comfort and collaboration during the project.
- We regularly track and measure the site’s performance in terms of environmental consideration, including noise and dust control as well as overall site cleanliness.
We also make use of HOAS’s Aware Construction Site indicator.
- We measure factors that influence workplace well‑being, including perceived workload, respect, quality of leadership, motivation, and other elements that influence the overall employee experience.
- The assessment is carried out every three months through a survey.
Administratively and financially transparent
Our goal is to be a forerunner in transparency within the construction industry. Our operations are transparent, sustainable, inclusive, cost‑efficient, and fair.
What does administrative and financial transparency mean in practice?
- We focus on delivering solutions that create real value.
- We integrate sustainability into our procurement decisions from the very beginning.
- We select the most cost‑efficient and lifecycle‑sustainable options through comparative evaluation.
- We advance the industry through partnerships, knowledge sharing, innovation, and by offering students opportunities to develop their skills.
How do we measure administrative and financial transparency in practice?
- We are developing a monitoring method to advance areas such as risk management, competence, decision‑making, the prevention of the shadow economy, and the assessment of financial impacts.
Foreseeing the future
We identify future needs and help build a city that is resilient for the long term. We prepare for a range of future opportunities and risks, such as climate change, urban growth, and increasing uncertainty.
What does foreseeing the future mean in practice?
- We identify the impacts and needs arising from future changes—such as climate change, electrification, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and increasing urban density—within the project area.
- We prepare for these anticipated future changes and coordinate needs with other projects and stakeholders.
- We take sustainability, lifecycle costs, and maintainability into account.
How do we monitor foreseeing the future in practice?
- A monitoring model is being developed for the objective, taking into account the number of solutions, the specific future need each solution addresses, the level of impact, and how the solution is handled within the project.
