Responsible material choices, reusing materials and efficient waste management reduce climate impact and increase the recycling rate.
The choice of materials is highly significant for the climate impact of a building. As such, John Mattson selects sustainable materials with long lifespans that are possible to maintain when properties are renovated or when we build new properties. We also take responsibility for responsibly processing materials and waste throughout the entire value chain.
By 2030, John Mattson will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions from new builds and redevelopments on a per square metre basis to match or better the property sector average. We use project planning guidelines, set project requirements for climate-smart new builds and redevelopments and environmentally certify new production to govern and follow up on targets. We perform climate calculations in project planning and completion stages. Our supplier policy is to help ensure that all of our suppliers are informed about their environmental impact and can exercise control over it. It also ensures that they have a system for correctly handling waste, that they support reuse and recycling and that they actively work to ensure compliance among their subcontractors.
From a lifecycle perspective, more than half of the carbon emissions from new buildings arise during material production and construction. Decisions in the early stages are therefore essential to reduce a building’s climate impact. By choosing wooden frames instead of concrete in new production, greenhouse gas emissions can be limited. New, revised project planning guidelines for resource efficiency in new builds and redevelopments, and templates for construction contracts were developed during the year.Requirements for emissions levels are part of project planning and contractor procurement to ensure that emissions from new builds and redevelopments are in line with, or lower than, the sector average. Follow-up is conducted through climate declarations. When the properties are renovated or when we build new properties, we select materials with long lifespans and that are possible to maintain. The goal for all of the new residential properties that John Mattson develops from the start is for them to be certified according to Svanen, the official environmental certification of the Nordic region. Material choices in projects are to be approved by Byggvarubedömningen, the building-materials assessment system. During upgrades we take the reuse of materials and interior fittings into consideration.
Spillage and waste from the construction and property sector is significant. It is therefore important to reuse as much material as possible during renovations and to ensure that construction waste is handled correctly. We strive to retain as much as possible when we renovate, but waste that arises in renovating as well as in new builds is to be sorted according to our requirements for waste categories.
Since 2023, all Swedish properties are to sort their food waste according to national goals. An important part of John Mattson’s work is therefore to make it easier for our tenants to sort waste correctly. Continuous efforts are ongoing to simplify waste sorting through clear fraction signs and tenant communication. Most buildings in our portfolio have separate food waste sorting in underground containers and work is ongoing to provide all buildings with these.
