Author: Juha Rämö, technology director Consolis Parma 

Load-bearing frame structures account for the largest part of the carbon footprint of new buildings. Emissions can be significantly reduced by using low-carbon products and replacing new products with reused building components. Consolis Parma’s new circular economy solution, PARMA ReUse(TM), introduces reclaimed concrete elements to new construction alongside new products.          

PARMA ReUse™ is Parma’s factory refurbishment solution for bringing reclaimed concrete elements to new construction. Reclaimed products refurbished using PARMA ReUse technology belong to the PARMA Green™ product family and can be used as part of the delivery package in the same way as new products. 

The built environment plays a major role in combating climate change, as buildings and construction account for about one-third of Finland’s total emissions. Low-carbon building materials and products play a crucial role in reducing embodied emissions of buildings. 

Parma’s strategy and development work focus on climate-smart low-carbon products, energy efficiency, and promoting the circular economy. In new construction, reuse of factory-refurbished reclaimed concrete elements can replace some of the new products. 

The first binding national requirements for the carbon footprint of buildings came into force in Finland in the beginning of 2026. Achieving the limit values depends on many different factors. Reuse of reclaimed concrete elements is one solution that can help to meet the new requirements for low-carbon construction and achieving a carbon-neutral society. 

Turning research of the ReCreate project into a commercially available service 

Launching PARMA ReUse™ has drawn from the lessons learned in the ReCreate project, which have also been used in pilot projects and initial customer projects. 

In circular economy projects like this, Consolis Parma’s core expertise lies in factory refurbishment, product design, storage, inspection, quality control and testing, and ensuring traceability. We have successfully tested our role in practice in pilot and customer projects. 

End-of-life buildings form a huge material bank that can be capitalized for the reuse of reclaimed concrete elements. Necessary dimensional changes can be made during factory refurbishment, and the use of reclaimed elements does not limit the architecture compared to the use of new products. 

Reuse of concrete elements is a relatively complex process that is influenced by many factors. Cooperation that begins as early as possible helps to ensure a successful delivery. 

Read more about the PARMA ReUse solution in Finnish here.  

ReCreate Laboratory testing at Consolis Parma/photo by Satu Huuhka