City of Helsinki’s circular procurement framework for office and public space furniture

The City of Helsinki has redefined its approach to furnishing public spaces by embedding circularity into procurement at scale. Rather than treating used furniture as an exception, the city made reuse a mandatory requirement across its €40 million framework, supported by criteria for recycled materials, repairability, and longer product lifespans. Early market dialogue and active collaboration between procurement and environmental experts helped suppliers see circularity not as a challenge but as a competitive advantage. This initiative marked a clear shift from purchasing new products to maintaining value through reuse and repair, demonstrating how strong leadership and practical criteria can turn circular ambition into everyday procurement practice.