Challenge provider
MCF is the government authority responsible for coordinating Sweden’s crisis preparedness, civil defence, and the protection of vital societal functions during serious emergencies. The organisation works with solutions connected to shelters, protected environments, and civil preparedness.
Background
Across Europe, construction and infrastructure are among the largest consumers of raw materials and one of the biggest sources of waste and emissions. The construction sector alone accounts for more than one third of all waste generated in the EU.
At the same time, societies are preparing for large-scale investments in resilience, civil preparedness, and protected infrastructure. New kinds of shelters – fixed, mobile and semi-mobile needs to be developed. New systems, materials, technical equipment, filters, and interior solutions may need to be produced at scale. The question is no longer if these systems will be built – but how.
If preparedness infrastructure is developed through traditional linear production models, the environmental impact would be significant. Large amounts of reusable materials can be sourced from existing buildings, industrial by-flows, and demolition- or remodelling projects, and expanding societal use of these materials would limit our need for new resources and thereby lower our combined environmental impact.
In crisis there are almost certain that various supply chains are disrupted and that means production of shelters, protective spaces and components for this have to be possible to produce with other materials and with different methods. This challenge is about rethinking preparedness not only as protection – but as an opportunity to innovate how society uses resources.
The challenge
Your challenge is to explore how shelters, protected environments, and preparedness infrastructure could be designed with sustainability, innovation, and circular resource flows at the core.
Think beyond traditional emergency systems. Explore how reuse, modular architecture, circular materials, local production, adaptive design, repairability, digital tracking, or entirely new business models could transform the future of preparedness.
This challenge is not only about recycling. It is about rethinking how preparedness systems are designed from the beginning:
- How materials are sourced
- How products are maintained and reused
- How systems can adapt over time
- And how protection and sustainability can strengthen each other instead of competing
Other aspects that can be considered:
- Concrete is an important material – how can this be recycled from destroyed or demolished buildings?
- How to secure a supply of cement for concrete production?
- Shelters needs to be airtight. This is largely accomplished by applying sealant
- Ability to 3D-print components for shelter use that have acceptable strength
- Activated carbon is a critical material for filters used in shelters. How can this be recycled or is there some alternative materials for this.
Could a protected space also function as a circular building system? Could preparedness products be reused, upgraded, or repurposed over time instead of discarded? Could cities develop local ecosystems where waste materials become strategic resources for resilience?
MCF is looking for bold and future-oriented ideas that combine preparedness, sustainability, and innovation in ways that can shape the resilient societies of tomorrow.