Researchers, companies and public sector actors gathered at Luleå University of Technology for Sustainability Day 2026.
8 May 2026
"Sustainability in Practice" Brought Together the Construction Industry in Luleå
How can the construction and civil engineering industry adapt to meet the climate challenges of the future? That was the central question when researchers, companies, and public sector representatives gathered at Luleå University of Technology for a seminar on sustainable construction.
The event was organized by the Swedish Construction Federation, Luleå University of Technology, and the Network for Sustainable Construction in Norrbotten. The seminar was based on the industry’s roadmap for fossil-free competitiveness and the requirements stemming from the net-zero emissions target.
“The construction and civil engineering industry faces many challenges, but the biggest one is sustainability. Here in Luleå, we also have world-leading research in construction and civil engineering, and collaboration with Luleå University of Technology is crucial,” said Erik Ranängen from Byggföretagen.
Throughout the day, research was combined with concrete examples from the industry. Several presentations focused on reuse and sustainable renovation, but issues regarding material selection, climate impact, and municipal requirements were also raised.
“Reuse is something we’ve been working with for millennia, but which we’ve lost sight of over the past 50 years,” said Lars Stehn, professor at Luleå University of Technology.
Emma Bonnevier from Byggföretagen highlighted the EU’s climate targets and what requirements they place on the industry’s work with sustainability.
Liza Sällström Eriksson presented research being conducted in collaboration with Lulebo, focusing on the sustainable renovation of existing housing. The projects balance material use, energy savings, and cost-effectiveness within a life-cycle perspective.
Several companies also demonstrated how sustainability efforts can be put into practice. Tyréns presented the ACE Powerhouse project in Skellefteå, which focuses on reuse and circular solutions, while Contractor and Bygma discussed their work on a reuse facility in Umeå.
Materials and climate issues were also highlighted during the seminar. SSAB described the development of fossil-free steel, and Skanska demonstrated how climate issues are addressed in the Södra Sunnanå housing project. Skellefteå Municipality also discussed how the municipality incorporates sustainability requirements into construction projects.
Overall, the day demonstrated how sustainability issues impact the entire construction industry—from research and sustainability policies to material development, project implementation, and renovation.
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