How the construction sector is driving sustainable transition – insights from Forum Samhällsbyggnad

The construction and property sector is undergoing a decisive transformation. New EU requirements, climate targets and regulations are reshaping the playing field at record speed – whilst opportunities are growing for those players who dare to think innovatively and work together.

Against this backdrop, RISE brought together experts, decision-makers and innovators at the Forum Samhällsbyggnad 2026 in Gothenburg. By bringing together stakeholders from across the value chain, a platform was created to turn knowledge into action – and to identify how solutions can progress from pilot projects to widespread implementation.
 

Reuse as a practical tool for reducing climate impact

One area where the transition is already taking clear shape is the use of materials – where reuse is rapidly moving from aspiration to implementation.

Simon Grimberg, Executive Vice President of Development Partner and Deputy Project Manager at Jernhusen, spoke about the development of Göteborg Grand Central – a new station building that connects Gothenburg Central Station and the Nils Ericson Terminal, whilst setting a new standard for sustainable construction.

– We have developed a reuse strategy that identifies which materials are suitable for reuse and which are not. We also have a circularity strategy and a greening plan to increase biodiversity in the area. We identified brick early on as key to significantly reducing our climate impact, which is why all of the approximately 600,000 bricks have been reused from Denmark.

Navigating a changing world

As concrete solutions are developed, complexity increases. The world we live in today is more fast-paced and harder to interpret than it has been for a long time, and decisions often need to be made before the full picture is clear. Consequently, the ability to interpret change, consider multiple timeframes simultaneously and build foresight is becoming increasingly important in order to act wisely in an increasingly uncertain world.

Daniel Mattisson, Innovation and Process Manager at RISE, offered a forward-looking perspective on the construction sector’s transition:

– A key challenge for the construction and property sector is the need to accommodate multiple timeframes simultaneously. There is the here and now, where projects must be driven forward and requirements met, but also a longer-term trend in which shifts in areas such as climate adaptation, circularity and digitalisation are changing the landscape at an ever-increasing pace. Foresight is about exploring possible futures, identifying risks and opportunities in good time, and making more robust decisions. It is about both delivering in the present and creating better conditions for the future we want to help build.

From EU directives to everyday practice in the Swedish construction industry

A key issue for the industry is how new EU directives, standards and national regulations are implemented in practice – and how they can be used to drive development rather than hinder it.

This was discussed by Mikael Lindecrantz, Digital Innovation Lead at Ragn-Sells, Emma Grass, Project Manager at Skanska, Jan Suchorzewski, Marketing Manager for Infrastructure and Concrete Construction at RISE, and Dag Sjöholm, Marketing Manager for Certification at RISE.

The discussion touched on topics such as increased data requirements, digital product passports and circularity – areas where common working methods and standards are crucial to enabling scale.

– It’s about finding the best possible use for the material and letting its properties dictate how it is used. The EU has standards for the digital documentation of materials, and we have, in parallel, developed ways of describing how materials can be reused. By linking these concepts, we achieve a positive outcome: the material is used more effectively whilst generating the data needed for reporting – a real win-win, said Mikael Lindecrantz.

Innovation where conflicting goals converge

When ambitious sustainability goals come up against practical, economic and legal constraints, conflicts of interest arise. But it is also here, in this area of tension, that new solutions take shape.

Kristian Käll, Sustainability Manager at Älvstranden Utveckling AB, Lina K Wiles, Chief Sustainability Officer at Adapteo Group, Magnus Söderholm, Senior Project Manager at the City of Gothenburg, and Katarina Malaga, Head of Business Development for Sustainable Construction at RISE, highlighted the importance of identifying conflicting objectives early on in projects – as a prerequisite for managing them and driving development forward.

– High ambitions create conflicting priorities between, for example, different sustainability perspectives, timelines and financial considerations, and to manage these we need to work collaboratively from an early stage with those who will be carrying out the construction. In our areas, the climate transition must be a cornerstone, with significant reductions in emissions during construction, whilst we continue to have high expectations for good design and inclusive facilities for the people of Gothenburg, said Kristian Käll.

Technology, materials and data as enablers

The technological shift is already here. AI, digital twins and new materials solutions are transforming the way we plan, build and manage – and opening up entirely new ways to optimise resource use and reduce our environmental impact.

Ida Malmgren, CEO of Kaminsky Arkitektur, Urban Blomster, Product Manager at Södra Building System, Andrea Gajic, Digital Innovation Strategist at Västfastigheter, VGR, Sofia Stensson, researcher and Project Manager in the Built environment, AI and digitalisation at RISE, and Magnus Falk, Project Manager in Sustainable construction at RISE, gave examples of how these developments are already driving change throughout the value chain.

– There are possibilities we aren’t even aware of, and that’s incredibly exciting. One quote that has really stuck with me is: ‘First we shape technology, then technology shapes us.’ AI has already changed the way we work, but the most important question isn’t what the technology can do – but what we want it to do for us. Used correctly, it can free up time for reflection, creativity and better decisions – which ultimately helps us achieve the results we actually want, said Sofia Stensson.

From strategy to action – and on to scaling

A recurring theme throughout the day was how climate targets are translated into concrete changes – and how good examples can progress from individual initiatives to widespread implementation.

Nina Jacobsson Stålheim, Head of Development for Ecological Sustainability at Förvaltnings AB Framtiden, Magnus Österbring, Research and Innovation Coordinator at NCC, Andreas Huss, Project Manager for Urban Planning at RISE, and Ann-Charlotte Mellquist, Researcher in Circular Economy and Circular Business Models at RISE, discussed how climate ambitions are becoming a reality – and what is needed to scale them up.

– In the Circularity Gap Report The Value Gap: Sweden we have analysed how much economic value is lost in Sweden’s linear economy – and the biggest value gap lies in the construction and property sector. Closing this gap presents significant opportunities to preserve value, strengthen circularity and meet the sector’s future needs,” said Ann-Charlotte Mellquist.

– We are well placed to translate climate targets into concrete changes, not least thanks to political courage in Gothenburg and clear, ambitious goals. As a developer, we have had to take on entirely new roles: we have had to step in actively, not just act as clients but instead drive development. We work with three time horizons – setting challenging but realistic requirements that create the conditions here and now, implementing pilot projects that move us forward, and, together with market players, driving and stimulating the solutions of tomorrow, said Nina Jacobsson Stålheim.

Significant value to be unlocked in a circular economy

At the same time, there is significant untapped potential in today’s system – both in financial and resource terms. Ann-Charlotte Mellquist highlighted the financial losses in the construction and property sectors within today’s linear economy – and the business opportunities arising from the transition.

– There are significant losses in value, but also major business opportunities – renovating, repairing and reusing rather than demolishing or throwing away, as well as finding ways to utilise unused space. However, we need to collaborate more in this area, for example through industrial symbiosis or reuse hubs. In any case, it is not possible to become circular on your own.

Collaboration as the key – from initiative to systemic change

One clear conclusion from the day is that the solutions exist – but to have a real impact, they need to be disseminated, scaled up and implemented across the entire system.

Here, collaboration, joint knowledge-building and the ability to move from testing to application play a crucial role – areas in which RISE, together with the industry, is driving development forward.

Marco Lucisano, Senior Vice President Built Environment at RISE, summed up the day:

– We’ve been talking about how we can try new things, and I think that in itself is a stance we sometimes forget when we focus on the difficulties. It’s important to remember that it really is possible. Let’s help each other give it a go, and once we’ve tried – seize opportunities, expand and scale up – so that it really makes a difference!

He also emphasised the importance of collaboration – and RISE role as a facilitator in the transition:

– The forum and the discussions held there have provided new perspectives and demonstrated the power of collaboration. RISE has an important role to play as a driving force for change in Sweden’s transition and competitiveness – but this is something we do together. The Forum Samhällsbyggnad is precisely the kind of meeting place where collaboration becomes possible. Let us now continue to drive the development towards more sustainable construction forward together, said Marco Lucisano.