Comparative Analysis of Sustainable Materials and Methods in Scandinavia
Translated title
Komparativ analyse over bærekraftige materialer og metoder i Skandinavia
Author
Strand, Johannes Rabjerg
Term
4. term
Publication year
2026
Submitted on
2026-06-04
Pages
61
Abstract
The construction sector faces growing pressure to cut greenhouse gas emissions, resource use, and waste. As a result, sustainable materials, environmental initiatives, and circular economy principles are increasingly prominent across Scandinavia. This thesis maps which sustainable building materials and initiatives are most common in Scandinavia and how they shape the construction market. We use a qualitative approach that combines a literature review with semi‑structured interviews with industry professionals in Norway and Denmark. A comparative analysis highlights similarities and differences between the two countries in material choices, regulatory frameworks, market drivers, and implementation challenges. The results show both Norway and Denmark are moving toward more sustainable construction, but the momentum comes from different sources. In Denmark, regulation is a key driver—especially life cycle assessment (LCA, which evaluates environmental impact from production to end of life), climate requirements, and certification schemes such as DGNB. In Norway, public procurement and client requirements, the use of low‑carbon concrete, and financial incentives play a larger role. The study also finds that sustainability is not only about new materials: reuse, recycling, and circular material flows are central in practice. Several organizations work on material recovery, reuse of building components, and concrete recycling, extending material lifecycles and reducing demand for virgin resources. Despite progress, major barriers remain: economic considerations, hazardous substances, extensive documentation requirements, logistical challenges, and limited markets for reused materials. Overall, sustainable materials and initiatives increasingly shape the Scandinavian construction market through stricter environmental rules, new documentation practices, and changing approaches to resource management. The transition to a more circular construction industry depends on the interplay between regulation, market incentives, and technological innovation.
Byggebranchen er under stigende pres for at reducere drivhusgasudledninger, ressourceforbrug og affald. Derfor fylder bæredygtige materialer, miljøtiltag og principper for cirkulær økonomi stadig mere i den skandinaviske byggesektor. Denne afhandling kortlægger, hvilke bæredygtige materialer og initiativer der er mest udbredte i Skandinavien, og hvordan de påvirker markedet. Vi anvender en kvalitativ tilgang, der kombinerer litteraturgennemgang med semistrukturerede interviews med fagfolk i Norge og Danmark. En komparativ analyse fremhæver ligheder og forskelle mellem landene i materialevalg, regulering, markedsdrivere og implementeringsudfordringer. Resultaterne viser, at både Norge og Danmark er på vej mod mere bæredygtigt byggeri, men udviklingen drives af forskellige mekanismer. I Danmark er regulering en hoveddriver—særligt livscyklusvurderinger (LCA, som vurderer miljøpåvirkning fra produktion til endt levetid), klimakrav og certificeringsordninger som DGNB. I Norge spiller offentlige indkøb og bygherrers krav, brug af beton med lavt CO2‑aftryk og økonomiske incitamenter en større rolle. Afhandlingen viser også, at bæredygtig udvikling rækker ud over nye materialer: genbrug, genanvendelse og cirkulære materialestrømme er centrale i praksis. Flere organisationer arbejder med materialeindsamling og genvinding, genbrug af byggekomponenter og genanvendelse af beton, hvilket forlænger materialers levetid og reducerer behovet for nye ressourcer. Trods fremskridt består væsentlige barrierer: økonomiske hensyn, tilstedeværelse af farlige stoffer, omfattende dokumentationskrav, logistiske udfordringer og begrænsede markeder for genbrugte materialer. Overordnet påvirker bæredygtige materialer og initiativer i stigende grad det skandinaviske byggemarked via strammere miljøkrav, nye dokumentationspraksisser og ændrede måder at styre ressourcer på. Overgangen til en mere cirkulær byggebranche afhænger af samspillet mellem regulering, markedsincitamenter og teknologisk innovation.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]