China-Sweden Hammarby Eco City Alliance is on their way of building a district in Yantai, China, modelled from Hammarby Sjöstad in Stockholm. Several big Swedish companies like Ikea, ABB and Sweco have partnered up to realise the project.
China-Sweden Hammarby Eco City Alliance, initiated and founded by leading Swedish enterprises operating in China including White Peak, Sweco, Envac and Business Sweden, held an event on Chinese and Swedish collaboration on sustainable cities and celebrated its one-year anniversary at the Swedish Embassy in China on June 9th 2020.
The Alliance has further expanded collaboration with leading Swedish companies including ABB, Assa Abloy and IKEA, with their executives signing procurement agreements with White Peak, the largest European residential developer in China, at the ceremony.
China-Nordic cooperation
The alliance is part of a continuous commitment to promote cooperation, the exchange of experiences and business opportunities between the Nordics and China, especially for those related to the urban environment, health, and wellbeing.
– To create a truly sustainable world, for ourselves as well as future generations, it is key for us to succeed in developing cities with good living habitats by using long-lasting sustainable technologies, said H.E. Helena Sångeland, Swedish Ambassador to China.
Swedish urban development model
Representatives from the Alliance discussed how they are bringing the vision of sustainable urban development to reality, inspired by Hammarby Sjöstad, a smart eco-city and a global model for urban redevelopment in Stockholm, Sweden.
White Peak, together with its partners in the Alliance, are realising the idea of sustainable urban development by redeveloping a former industrial area into a green, innovative, digital, and healthy eco city with their first project, “Yantai Hammarby Eco City” in Yantai, Shandong province.
At the event, White Peak signed procurement agreements with four multinational companies including ABB Group, Assa Abloy, Envac AB, and IKEA to provide sustainable Swedish products and services for the Yantai Eco City. The total value of Swedish products to be purchased for the Eco City projects amount to more than RMB 100 million.
In Yantai, buildings are now rising, and phase one of the project is planned to be completed by 2022. The Eco City has already obtained the “Very Good” rating from BREEAM, the world’s longest established method of benchmark rating for sustainable buildings. The initial phase will be developed into around 2,000 homes, an ice hockey arena, as well as office and retail facilities.
The features introduced from the original Hammarby model, including a dual-way air purification system, a kitchen water purification system, triple sound insulation systems, a dimensional green system, a vacuum waste collection system, and SMART management systems, attractinh local home buyers seeking to build the foundation for a healthy lifestyle.
Collaboration in sustainable development
Sweden has long been a global leader in ESG and sustainability. At the same time, China’s devotion to sustainable development is resulting in great achievements with promising prospects.
As they continue on the path of urbanisation and the pursuit for high-quality growth, Chinese cities are tackling the challenges of minimising environmental impact, enabling citizens to enjoy a good living environment, and ensuring sustainable economic growth. Technology and practices from Sweden, in this case, will serve the needs of many cities in China with the Hammarby Eco City as the model.
Expansion to other cities
Empowered by a growing number of Swedish partners, the Hammarby model will soon be introduced in more cities in China, starting in White Peak’s core markets of Shandong, Hebei and Liaoning provinces.
Read more about Hammarby Sjöstad here.
Visit the Eco City Alliance website here.
