Classification of Recycled Materials and Products

What is the Classification of Recycled Materials and Products?

The Classification of Recycled Materials and Products, published by Rakennustieto, provides information on the safety of construction materials and products made from recycled materials, as well as the amount of recycled material they contain.

The classification is intended for construction products, fixed furnishings, and other furniture used in construction that are manufactured primarily from inorganic recycled raw materials (e.g., crushed concrete, crushed brick, gypsum, glass, etc.). These materials, many of which have previously been used in construction, are already being recycled extensively in the manufacture of new construction products.

The harmful substances tested in the classification have been selected based on their known risks to human health and/or the environment.

As part of the classification process, recycled materials or products are laboratory tested for substances such as:

• Asbestos
• PAH compounds (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
• PCB compounds (Polychlorinated Biphenyls)
• SCCP substances (Short-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins)

In addition, the manufacturer must verify its production process and provide information on the proportion of recycled material contained in the product.

Benefits of the Classification

For Product Suppliers

• Enhances product competitiveness through verified product safety.
• Promotes the use of recycled materials and supports corporate environmental goals.
• Demonstrates environmental responsibility.
• Verified by an independent third party.
• Can serve as part of the documentation when applying for the M1 Building Material Emission Classification.
• Becomes visible and accessible to the entire industry through Rakennustieto’s Product Information Service.

For Contractors and Property Owners

• Verified by an independent third party.
• Documents key product safety characteristics.
• Demonstrates environmental responsibility and project safety.
• Encourages the use of recycled materials and supports corporate environmental objectives.
• Classification and recycled material content information are easy to find when searching, comparing, and selecting products through Rakennustieto’s Product Information Search service.
• Supports compliance with the EU Taxonomy framework.