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About the Nordic Networks for Circular Construction project. Nordic Circularity Accelerator (NCA) About the project The Nordic Circularity Accelerator (NCA) project aimed to increase cohesion and cooperation related to circular construction among Nordic stakeholders . It was a side-project of the Nordic Networks for Circular Construction (NNCC) project, funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The NCA project set its eyes on life beyond the NNCC project scope, and it produced recommendations for enhancing circularity in construction at national, Nordic, and European levels . See the recommendations here Main objectives The research was structured to build upon existing knowledge and dig deeper into identified specifics. The original research questions are as follows: > What measures should the public sector take to accelerate circularity in the markets? > What was of Nordic-level interest, and what should be considered at a local level? > How could the Nordics influence EU decision-making processes? > How could contributions from the Nordic Council of Ministers to the development of circular construction at Nordic and local levels be facilitated, and what aspects should be prioritised? After formulating the specific research questions and identifying knowledge gaps, the latter were discussed at workshops with almost 150 market representatives from five Nordic countries. Project partners Green Building Council Iceland and the Finnish Green Building Council realised the NCA project in cooperation with the Danish Technological Institute , the Norwegian Green Building Council , Sirkulær Ressurssentral , CCBuild and IVL Sustainable Building AB .

Information on Byggjum grænni framtíð (Let's build greener future - Icelandic roadmap to sustainable construction). Byggjum grænni framtíð - Roadmap towards sustainable construction Following Iceland's climate action plan , the public road map towards sustainable construction was introduced as a result of a joint project between the government and construction sector stakeholders (Byggjum grænni framtíð - Let's build a greener future), including the Green Building Council Iceland. The road map includes goals and a set of actions to reduce the carbon emissions of construction activities. The actions are divided into six main categories: Building materials. Construction stage. Building use stage. End of life stage. Planning and design. Incentives and other means to encourage change. The project management board consists of representatives from the Green Building Council Iceland, the Industry Association , the Road Administration , the Environment Agency , the Union of Icelandic Municipalities , the Ministry of Social Affairs, and the Housing and Construction Authority (HMS). Elín Þórólfsdóttir from HMS is the project manager. More information can be found on the BGF website .

About our partners in the CIRCON project. Project partners Our project partners have long-standing experience in both practical and research aspects of circular economy implementation in the construction sector. Polish Green Building Council (PLGBC) Polish Green Building Council (PLGBC) has realised the mission of making sustainable construction the norm in Poland since 2008. To do so, they cooperate with a broad range of experts, ranging from architects through local governments, scientists, other NGOs, enterprises to media companies. The key areas of their activities are buildings decarbonisation and adaptation to climate change, circular economy in the construction sector, biodiversity increase, and improvement of society's quality of life. Home Silesian University of Technology (SUT) The Silesian University of Technology (SUT) is one of the leading Polish universities in technology and innovation. The team appointed to the project has over 30-year experience in waste management and circular economy principles, gained while working with national and international research, governmental, and industrial partners. Home

Green Building Council Iceland's materials on other topics than construction and demolition waste or certification systems. Other published materials On this page you can find reports that GBCI has published or been involved in the publication process of. Click the reports to read them. 2025 Nettó Núll - Carbon neutral construction in Icelandic conditions 2024 Nordic Circularity Accelerator Recommendations on how to expedite circular construction nationally, in the Nordics and in Europe. Nordic Networks for Circular Construction Policy patways for fostering circular transition in construction in the Nordic Region 2021 Parents and children's travel habits to kindergarten (in Icelandic) 2020 Let's build a greener future (Byggjum grænni framtíð) - Summary of the state of environmental issues in the construction industry in the Nordic countries (in Icelandic) 2019 The Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (Umhverfis- og auðlindaráðuneytið )granted GBCI a grant to prepare guidelines for apartment buildings that want to promote more environmentally friendly priorities in their operations. The guidelines were drawn up in collaboration with Sorpa and Eignaumsjón . The guidelines can be read below (in Icelandic). A greener apartment building (in Icelandic) Overview of energy consumption, energy prices and energy requirements for heating in Icelandic buildings (in Icelandic) LCA - Environmental impact of buildings and building materials from cradle to grave (in Icelandic) Environmental description of building materials (in Icelandic) Environmentally friendly building in the Icelandic context (in Icelandic) 2013-2017 Material quality - an overview of common building materials, their properties and main environmental aspects (in Icelandic) Housing and health - the health effects of buildings and the benefits of green buildings (in Icelandic) Ecological urban planning (in Icelandic)

Some EPDs on wall coverings in Iceland. Environmental product declarations (EPDs) - Wall coverings in Iceland ALUCOBOND Alucobond 3A Composites GmbH ISOPAN Sandwich panels with steel facings and expanded polyurethane or polyisocyanurate insulating core KME KOPARINN TECU® Oxid copper sheets and strips VM ZINC ALPOLIC Alpolic Composite Panels KME KOPARINN TECU® Bronze copper alloys sheets and strips KME KOPARINN TECU® Patina copper sheets FALZONAL Falzonal aluminium outdoor panels KME KOPARINN TECU® Classic copper sheets and strips VM ZINC ANTHRA-ZINC QUARTZ-ZINC PIGMENTO

Some EPDs on paints in Iceland. Environmental product declarations (EPDs) - Paints in Iceland JOTUN Jotun Heftgrunning Universal JOTUN Jotun Lady Pure Color JOTUN Jotun Sparkel Fin Gipsplate JOTUN Jotun Jotaproff Akryl 10% JOTUN Jotun Pilot WF Primer JOTUN Jotun Sparkel Vegg & Tak medium JOTUN Jotun Jotaproff Primadekk JOTUN Jotun Prosjektsparkel JOTUN Jotun Trebitt Oljebeis

Leiðbeiningar um endurnýtingu byggingarefna og ábyrgt niðurrif (BGF 4.9 , 4.10 ) About the project Grænni byggð worked within two actions in Vegvísir að vistvænni mannvirkjagerð 2030: 4.9. Gefa út leiðbeiningar um úrgangsforvarnir, undirbúning fyrir endurnotkun, endurvinnslu og aðra endurnýtingu byggingarefna við hönnun nýrra mannvirkja og á endurbótum . 4.10. Gefa út leiðbeiningar um ábyrgt niðurrif . To address the objectives of these two actions, the concise yet informative materials were published on the Hringvangur website . The two actions were tackled collectively as they are interwoven (i.e., reuse and recycling of materials is a significant part of selective demolition). The materials contain information on, among others: Circularity potential of most commonly used materials and products (e.g., concrete, steel, wood, glass, sanitary equipment, fire equipment, indoor products – windows, door, ventilation ducts); Environmental motivation standing behind circular practices and selective demolition with examples of real-life circular solutions and projects; New roles and responsibilities of chosen main stakeholders in circular projects.

Some information about EPDs,PCR and some EPDs for Icelandic products. Environmental product declarations (EPDs) An environmental product declaration (EPD) is a document providing confirmed information about the environmental impact of the product's life cycle based on the results of performed life cycle assessment (LCA). The EPD also contain the information required by the specific Product Category Rules (PCR) and General Programme Instructions . Eventually, EDP is verified by a third party who evaluates the analysis independently. As the methodology of its preparation is regulated, EPD help build transparency and increase confidence that environmental claims made by manufacturers are accurate. In many ways, such a statement is similar to the ingredient descriptions of food products, but instead of information on nutritional value, there is information on the product's environmental impact. The first Icelandic EPD was published for Steinull , based on the analysis done by EFLA , confirmed by SINTEF building research in Oslo and published by EPD-Norge . More information on EPDs can be found on the International EPD System website or in the presented video. An open EPD database can be found on the InData network website . Product Category Rules (PCR) A Product Category Rule provides specific instructions for how life cycle assessment (LCA) should be performed for a particular product category. More precisely, it includes, among others, the so-called system boundaries (which processes and product's life cycle stages should be considered) and declared or functional units, which should be used for specific products. More information on PCR can be found on the International EPD System website , and the PCR library can be found here . Some of the EPDs for construction products and materials in Iceland Plasterboards Timber Paints Wall coverings Cement and masonry mixtures Concrete Insulating materials Building blocks Steinefni Pípur

Some EDPs on building blocks in Iceland. Environmental product declaration (EPDs) - Building blocks in Iceland PAGO Durisol D365 Standard Block FRAUÐSTEYPA EHF Unreinforced AAC building block BM VALLÁ Filigran element

Some EPDs on timber materials in Iceland. Environment (EPDs) - Timber materials in Iceland KLH KLH CLT timber pannels Límtré Vírnet KLH CLT timber pannels

Some EPDs on pipes in Iceland. Environmental product declarations (EPDs) - Wall coverings in Iceland Pre-insulated single steel pipes and fittings Set ehf./GmbH

Torfhús - getum við lært af fortíðinni? About the project In the preliminary study done in 2024, we analysed the climate sustainability of turf houses by performing a life cycle assessment (LCA) for a model turf house and estimating its carbon footprint throughout its whole life. This gave us a baseline for addressing the following question: Could we learn from the past and change our ways of living and building inspired by turf houses? In this project, we'll investigate past techniques, attitudes toward material use, and living conditions we could adopt to current practices. Within the project, we'll also work on designing a circular house that can be built in Icelandic conditions. Eventually, we'll compare the carbon footprint of a modern circular house to that of a model turf house. Grænni byggð works with Lendager Island and Minjastofnun in this project. Collaborators Overview The project's objective is twofold. It aims to facilitate circular construction in Iceland by providing a proof-of-concept in the form of a circular house design and, simultaneously, bringing attention back to a vital part of Icelandic heritage: turf houses. The project received a grant from Askur - mannvirkjarannsóknasjóður which is funded by Húsnæðis- og mannvirkjastofnun, Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing and the Ministry of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education.