Norway's first Circle Scan has now been completed here in Kongsvinger region. In the last workshop, action plans were established for four circular pilot projects. These will contribute to less CO2 emissions, better resource utilization, new circular jobs and public savings.
Together with representatives from the public sector and business, the Kongsvinger region has carried out a Circle Scan (also called City Scan) for the construction industry.
- Circle Scan is a tool for solving future challenges and achieving the sustainability goals, says project owner Anne Huse from the regional council.
Inland county, they have a new, ambitious strategy with a focus on sustainability. The Regional Council believes that Circle Scan has helped to provide concrete content for parts of the strategy. Mayor of Sør-Odal, Knut Hvithammer, supports the message from Huse.
- The Kongsvinger region is Norway's green heart, and we have an ambitious regional business strategy with sustainability as an important focus area. Now we can take the lead in circular economy, says Hvithammer.
In circular economy, the goal is to reuse or reuse all raw materials so that no waste is produced. Hvithammer emphasizes that they have good raw materials in the timber in the region, and have a construction industry that is large and leading. The effect of becoming more circular in this sector is therefore high.
Hear how we work with circular economy. Regional council leader Knut Hvithammer (mayor Sør-Odal), Trond Sørensen (GIR), Anne Huse (regional council), Eva Snare (Nord-Odal municipality), Ole Gunnar Holen (Sør-Odal municipality), Jon Guttormsen (Topos architecture) and Sofie Pindsle (Circular Norway) talks about the method and an ongoing circular construction project.
Collaboration process with many stakeholders
The project has lasted a year and has involved politicians, public administration and actors from the construction industry in the six municipalities in the region.
- We are very pleased with the process in Circle Scan Kongsvinger. The collaboration has been completely unique, and we are impressed by the local commitment that has led to more pilots already being implemented, says Jordi Pascal, project manager Circle Economy.
The project has been led by the Dutch Circle Economy in collaboration with Circular Norway and has gone over four phases in which key actors from the local community have participated. In phase one, the region's socio-economic conditions are mapped. Then a material flow analysis is performed, then strategies for increased circularity are developed. Finally, action plans are made for circular pilots.
- Circle Economy has very good tools for engaging and involving people. It has also been very good to have Circular Norway as the Norwegian link for anchoring in the methodology, says Eva Snare, business manager in Nord-Odal municipality and local project manager.
Solid local efforts
Sofie Pindsle has been Circular Norway's project resource. She emphasizes that the circular pilots in phase four are important so that this does not just become a desk exercise.
- The action plans that have been developed show both socially beneficial effects, as well as the financial savings that come from reusing more materials, says Pindsle who is very satisfied with the local efforts in the Kongsvinger region.
Read more about the pilots here
The general manager of Glåmdal Interkommunale Renovasjonsselskap, Trond Sørensen, confirms that the project has led to increased circular practice.
- In the project, we challenge the waste pyramid. The waste pyramid starts at the bottom by putting things in the landfill. And then there is energy recovery or incineration of garbage, then there is material recycling, and on top of that is not producing waste. That's where we want to be. It requires a change in consumers, and in manufacturers. In the future, we will not make waste, but things that can be used again.
- In addition to increasing circularity, Circle Scan also contributes to the Kongsvinger region delivering on six different sustainability goals. This is something the municipalities are also measured on, so Circle Scan is also relevant within the sustainability goals, says Pindsle.