Before technology was developed, nature knew how to reuse. In the natural world, nothing is wasted and materials repeatedly shift shape and purpose. For Peikko, the future of construction begins by returning to the roots.
In this article, Peikko experts Ján Bujňák and Jaakko Yrjölä discuss the process behind DELTABEAM® Green Reuse and how the solution’s journey began a long time ago with a mindset that’s in Peikko’s DNA.
Back to the beginning
Peikko’s mindset of reusing resources starts from the roots – literally. We as humans are used to constant novelty, and we’re now beginning to see the consequences.
"Reuse is the natural state of things. Nature doesn’t waste; it transforms. At some point, humans learned to transcend the laws of nature, and we started to create more, instead of reusing", says Ján Bujňák, Vice President of Product Development at Peikko.
"The problem is that we just keep doing more, and there’s a clear limit. We are taking too much from nature. That limit is our motivation to rethink how we build", Jaakko Yrjölä, Senior Manager at Peikko adds.
A long-time vision, turning into reality
At Peikko, discussions about circular economy and the scarcity of resources began early on.
"We were talking about these things in 2010, long before circular economy became a mainstream topic. Back then, we were one of the founders of the Nordic Circular Alliance to bring companies together around the idea. However, this wasn’t seen as urgent yet. The idea of reuse felt quite radical", Jaakko says.
Despite this, Peikko saw undeniable potential in this and kept pushing forward, searching for practical ways to turn ideas into action. In 2019, Peikko began experimenting with reusability in its own factory yard. The curiosity was immediate. Slowly but surely, results started to show.
"We started from scratch, doing tests in our own yard. Everyone wanted to see if it was even possible. When we found out it was, it was a turning point. We realized that we could make reuse simple, using our existing technology. That was our Eureka! moment", Jan says.
Peikko’s expertise in slim floor structures and connections provided the perfect foundation for something new, even though it wasn’t obvious at first. Years of testing and refusal to compromise resulted in developing DELTABEAM® Green Reuse, a beam designed for disassembly and reuse. The innovation enables one frame to support multiple buildings throughout its lifetime.
Balance between vision and practice
For Peikko, innovation has always been about finding the right balance. It’s important to keep the focus on what’s needed now, while developing for the future.
"We need flexibility and resources to make concrete progress. Sustainability isn’t just about materials. It’s about how adaptable your solutions and your organization are", Jan says.
Flexibility, in fact, is one of the most important sustainability factors. Long spans and transformable spaces allow buildings to change purpose instead of being demolished.
"Long spans are sustainability. You can use and regenerate the same space repeatedly. Flexibility is what gives buildings a longer life", Jaakko says.
Forging the way together
Technically, the foundations for reuse are already in place. But turning it into an industry-wide standard still requires new systems, from approval processes to market platforms for reused elements. Even if the technology works, to make reuse systematic, clear roles and responsibilities need to be set.
"There are still things to define: Who owns the process planning? How do we approve reused elements? How do we turn old structures into reusable ones? Those are the questions that still need answers", Jan and Jaakko explain.
Both believe the next step is to pilot and collaborate: to learn by doing.
"Change only happens together. We want to make it simple. The best way forward is to try, learn, and refine together", both say.
A matter of urgency
The motivation behind reuse isn’t theoretical. It’s driven by necessity.
"If we ignore reuse, the biggest risk is repeating the same mistakes. We’ll keep overproducing, inflating prices, and exhausting resources until we reach a point where building new becomes impossible. That’s why it’s time to rethink how we use what we already have", Jaakko says.
The best-case scenario is simple: reuse starts to become a standard choice, just like DELTABEAM® Green is today.
"Once solutions like Green Reuse are integrated into projects, they will shape the way the industry operates—creating new opportunities for growth and innovation, while ensuring valuable knowledge is carried on to the future generations", Jan says.
At its core, DELTABEAM® Green Reuse is more than a product. It challenges the industry to think differently about what already exist. The future of construction starts by looking back and learning from how nature has always done it. With DELTABEAM® Green Reuse, Peikko sets the frame for a new way of building: circular, adaptable, and ready for the generations to come.
Rethink. Reframe. Reuse.