Out of 69 applications, Vinnova has chosen to fund the project “Circular office development starts with the tenant – from decision to system shift.” The project highlights reuse in interior environments – an area with significant climate impact that has so far received little attention.
When a new tenant moves in, decisions are often made on whether interiors will be demolished, preserved, or replaced. These choices have a major impact on the climate – but they have rarely been at the center of climate governance in the building and real estate sector. This project aims to change that, giving tenants a new role as active stakeholders who can set requirements for climate-smart solutions.
With funding from Vinnova, three concrete results will be developed:
- HI Label 2.0 – an environmental certification with climate impact as its core criterion
- Climate database for interiors – open CO₂ data for furniture and building-related components
- Hint 2.0 – a digital decision-support tool that makes it easy to compare and choose climate-smart options
These solutions will be tested in a pilot project with Svenska Kraftnät and Castellum in Västerås.
Vinnova’s assessment
“The project’s focus on circular transition in interior environments is considered an area with great need for development and innovation. The proposal’s emphasis on knowledge and decision support is further assessed to have the potential for significant dissemination and system-level impact.”
Part of a transition lab
The project is also part of Vinnova’s transition lab for future attractive and accessible living environments. Participation in the lab is a prerequisite for scaling up reuse to system level. The project group contributes with hands-on experience of reuse, a certification system in development, a digital tool, and unique expertise in climate impact data. Through the lab, knowledge and methods are shared with other actors, with the joint ambition of making reuse the new normal in Swedish office development.
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“We are pleased that Vinnova recognizes the potential of focusing on interior environments. This is where the major decisions are made about preservation, reuse, or new purchases – and so far, these have often fallen outside climate calculations. Now we can change that,” says Kristin Östberg, CEO and Interior Architect at Indicum Inredningsarkitekter.
Project facts
- Name: Circular office development starts with the tenant – from decision to system shift
- Period: 2025–2027
- Partners: Indicum (coordinator), Voidmark, Agero, Prodikt, Works Arkitekter, Soeco, Svenska Kraftnät, Castellum
- Funding: Vinnova, within Impact innovation: Transition lab for future attractive and accessible living environments
Read more about the project here.
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