Characterized by red wooden houses with grass roofs, valleys, steep coastal cliffs and volcanic islands, the Faroe Islands are an outstanding example of how sustainable building practices and sustainable procurement can be aligned with the local environment.  

The Faroe Islands have implemented several environmental laws and regulations to enhance sustainable development. For instance, the Environmental Act mandates that projects with significant environmental impact must undergo environmentally sustainable assessment to evaluate the effects on the ecosystems, wildlife and natural resources.  

In the context of the Community of Practice on Circular Construction, Big Buyers Working Together’s members will organise a learning expedition to the Faroe Islands from the 15 to 18 September 2025.  

The objective of the study visit is to learn about sustainable procurement practices implemented by the Faroe Islands’ institutions, such as the Ministry of Environment and the University in Tórshavn. The study visit will also offer the unique opportunity to visit prominent examples of sustainable architecture, such as the Tinganes district in Torshavn and the Nordic House.  

The Nordic House in the Faroe Islands: preserving restoration  

Built in 1977 as the house of culture of the Faroe Islands with the support of 158 architects from all over Scandinavia, the Nordic House has become a prominent example of circular and sustainable architecture in the Faroe Islands. Over the years, renovations have focused on the preservation of the building with a focus on both values and challenges linked to long-term maintenance. 

The Nordic Green Roadmap for cultural institutions to which the Nordic House is committed, defines several recommendations to enhance sustainable construction choices, such as:  

- Green building standards: enforce or incentivise the adoption of green building standards for cultural instituions, encouraging the use of sustainable and recyclable materials, energy-efficient design, and renewable energy sources in new constructions or renovations.  

- Sustainable procurement policies: develop guidelines and regulations placing requirements on cultural institutions to prioritise sustainable procurement practices, such as sourcing environmentally friendly materials, promote fair trade products and supporting local suppliers.  

- Environmental reporting requirements: introduce mandatory reporting requirements to ensure that cultural institutions can track and disclose their energy consumption, waste generation, water usage, and carbon emissions. 

- Materials: before purchasing, it is fundamental to make an inventory of the holdings, to consider if any materials or resources can be reused, repurposed, repaired, or upgraded. The sustainability of materials depends on various specific criteria and regional variations. However, priority should be given to renewable and sustainable materials that have a low impact on the environment. For instance, sustainably sourced timber, bamboo, cork, and straw. Moreover, it is important that sustainable purchasing practices involve not only considering the materials used but also the entire life cycle of the building.  

Big Buyers sharing circular construction practices  

The learning expedition will be a unique opportunity for Big Buyers across Europe to learn about sustainable procurement practices in the Faroe Islands, to exchange on common challenges and barriers in the construction sector, and to discuss the role that public buyers and public procurement play in the sustainable and conscious development.