First ever Nordic PEFC-certified building project

12 April 2016 Sustainable construction

Scandinavia is soon to welcome its first PEFC Project certified building as Mäihä, a wooden apartment block, is unveiled at the Seinäjoki Housing Fair in Finland this July.

Through PEFC Project Certification, the building constructors will be able to demonstrate the project’s contribution to environmental conservation and economic sustainability.

“We are pleased that the first Nordic PEFC construction project will be in Finland,” announced Auvo Kaivola, Secretary General of PEFC Finland. “There have already been several good examples of PEFC Project Certification, including Kingsgate House, a certified apartment block in the UK, and the Winter Universiade in Italy.”

Mäihä will be built from modules made of PEFC-certified cross laminated timber (CLT) assembled in Stora Enso's mill. The modules are prefabricated in Hartola mill, and ready for assembly in the construction site. The prefabricated elements include windows, doors and kitchen units.

“Population growth and urbanization, as well as raising awareness on environmental and climate issues, increase the urge for sustainable and climate friendly wood-based construction,” said Petri Perttula, Head of Building Solutions at Stora Enso.

Once built, and only after an audit by an independent third party to ensure the project meets PEFC’s exacting requirements, will the building receive a PEFC certificate.

“As pioneers in wood construction in Finland, we wanted to be the first company to achieve PEFC project certification,” said Timo Mantila, Chief Executive Officer of Lakea Oy, the company responsible for the construction of the building.

“The use of CLT elements offers many opportunities and guarantees, among other things, the rapid erection of the building. We want to develop wood construction practices in Finland,” continued Mr. Mantila.

In addition to its use as a construction material, wood will play an important role throughout the site, including the decoration of the individual apartments.

Why build with wood?

Wood materials not only offer unique construction solutions to address the world’s growing need for urban housing, but if sourced sustainably from a certified forest, can help prevent the overexploitation and degradation of the world’s forests.

“There is now the opportunity to not only build these homes, but also to do so in a way that results in the lowest footprint possible: sustainable timber therefore sits at the heart of tomorrow’s construction industry,” highlighed Ben Gunneberg, PEFC International CEO.

PEFC Project Certification

PEFC Project Chain of Custody certification is a specific form of Chain of Custody certification that allows companies to take advantage of PEFC certification for their projects. Project Certification was designed as a mechanism for gaining independent verification of the use of certified timber in a one-off project such as a construction project which has a limited duration.