The municipality of Växjö is a prime example of Swedish timber construction, with at least 50% of new buildings being built from wood as of 2020. Visit Växjö to see how and why wood is the way to increased sustainability. Växjö municipality has long promoted timber construction. In recent years, this has been developed into a general strategy, known as The Modern Wooden City, to reduce Växjö’s carbon footprint. The idea is to use wood as the main construction material, as it is the only completely renewable material.

The Augustenborg district in Malmö was ambitiously rebuilt to manage flooding problems and socioeconomic challenges. As a result of solutions based on ecosystem services, the area is now an attractive neighbourhood and an example of a successful sustainable makeover of an urban district. Malmö in southern Sweden is conducting strategic climate adaptation work focused on managing water issues and on securing ecosystem services. Augustenborg is an interesting example of successful climate adaptation in a neighbourhood.

Linero, a district of Lund in southern Sweden, is a successful smart city upgrade project focused on improving around 800 apartments built in the 1970s to create more energy-efficient, eco-friendly housing. Half of the buildings have been retrofitted as part of CITyFiED, an EU project based on a mix of demonstration technologies, renewable energy technologies and sound business models to achieve the sustainable development of cities. Energy efficiency measures include facade renovation, district heating, solar power, smart grid technology and a monitoring platform.

The construction and property industry are radically changing as digitalization and new technology sweeps over the sector. Meet Nordic Contech and Proptech Stockholm to learn about Swedish startups and how they already impact globally. The quick pace and transitional power of digitalization is redefining industries and the construction industry is no exception. The Contech and Proptech scene in Sweden is strong with several interesting companies, from startups to established global players.

Älvstaden is the largest urban development project in the Nordic region, aiming to create an inclusive, green and dynamic inner city. Its ambitious sustainability goals include not only environmental aspects, but also a focus on social and economic integration. With a plan to transform the heart of Gothenburg into an inclusive, green and dynamic inner city, the aim is to revitalise the centre and link the Frihamnen port area with the rest of the city. A key focus is to reduce the differences in living conditions for residents.

The new city district of Oceanhamnen in Helsingborg has created a solution for separating and recovering different kinds of waste water and food waste at source. This leads to sustainable reuse of resources through Sweden’s first recovery plant, Reco Lab. Like many other cities, Helsingborg in southern Sweden is growing fast. As part of the H+ project, the city is transforming the old harbour and industrial zone into new residential areas.

Virtual meetings are sometimes a necessity, and sometimes the prefered option. Meetings online can save both time and money, at the same time as it reduces the environmental impact by limiting travels. In the project REMM, a step-by-step guide has been developed to make virtual meetings easier and smoother. During the last decade, an extensive process of digitization implementation has been underway in Swedish public agencies.

Extended Producer responsibility (EPR) is a governmental policy and a Swedish law that aims to better waste management and collection. The Swedish system shifts the waste management cost or physical collection fully from local governments to producers. The policy applies to different goods such as packaging, newsprint, electronic products, batteries, tires, end-of-life vehicles, pharmaceutical waste, stray radioactive products and radioactive sources.

In Kristianstad, one of the most polluted areas in southern Sweden has been decontaminated as part of a project to achieve a toxin-free environment. Toxins were reduced by 99.9% and the area is now the development site for a new residential district. Most countries and cities have areas that are contaminated by substances that are hazardous to wildlife, people and the environment.

Geofencing is a virtual geographical perimeter that helps create green zones where vehicles have their speed limited digitally and automatically switch to electric drive where appropriate. This technology is being trialled in Gothenburg as part of a more sustainable transport system. Sweden’s City of Gothenburg aims to be a driving force in smart, digitalised transport. One of the city’s many interesting projects is the testing of geofencing on a bus line operated by electrical and hybrid vehicles. Within the geofenced zone, smart vehicles can be limited or controlled to some extent.