Muuga Betoonelement: reducing CO₂ footprint and preparing for the future of construction

AS Muuga Betoonelement is one of Estonia’s most advanced producers of precast reinforced concrete elements, combining state-of-the-art production technology, long-term expertise, and a growing focus on reducing environmental impact.

Founded in 2006, the company launched production in 2009. Muuga Betoonelement is jointly owned by AS Ehitusfirma Rand & Tuulberg and Astlanda Ehitus OÜ. Today, the company employs approximately 150–160 people, including subcontractors, and generates an annual turnover of €16–18 million.

The production facility in Muuga was designed in cooperation with Prilhofer Consulting and is equipped with latest European manufacturing technology. The wall production line is supplied by Vollert/Weckenmann, while hollow-core slab equipment comes from Weiler. This enables the company to manufacture a wide range of reinforced concrete elements, including wall panels, floor slabs, columns, beams, staircases, and balcony slabs, primarily for new residential developments and apartment buildings.

Market changes drive the need for innovation

Until 2023, the Finnish market accounted for nearly 80% of Muuga Betoonelement’s production. However, the sharp downturn in residential construction in Finland has shifted the company’s focus back to Estonia. At the same time, environmental performance has become increasingly important across the concrete industry, particularly the CO₂ footprint of concrete, with cement being its largest contributor.

“It is clear that in the future, quality alone will no longer be enough. What will matter just as much is how small the environmental footprint of the product is,” says Indrek Ellamaa, CEO of Muuga Betoonelement.

Innovation: using slag to reduce cement content

Muuga Betoonelement is actively developing solutions to reduce the proportion of cement in concrete. One of the most promising approaches is the use of slag, a by-product of metallurgical processes, as a partial replacement for cement.

Slag is formed during the melting and refining of metals such as iron and steel. As it cools, it solidifies into a stone- or glass-like material. When properly processed and incorporated into concrete mixes, slag can significantly reduce the CO₂ footprint of concrete by up to approximately 30%.

In cooperation with Finnish partners, Muuga Betoonelement is developing new concrete recipes that will also be tested in Estonia. Although concrete with a lower cement content requires more complex chemical solutions and tighter production control, the company sees this as an inevitable step toward future-ready construction.

“In Sweden and Finland, CO₂ footprint requirements are already being written into project specifications. This is no longer a competitive advantage, it will soon become the standard,” Ellamaa explains.

Ready for future requirements

Muuga Betoonelement holds all the necessary certifications, including CE marking, documentation issued by Tallinn University of Technology, and the Inspecta (KIWA) certification required in Finland. The company produces exclusively project-based elements, meaning each solution is tailored to the specific requirements of the building and the client.

Despite the challenging market outlook in the short term, Muuga Betoonelement sees future growth opportunities in Estonian real estate development as well as in major public projects, including developments in and around Tallinn’s Old City Harbour.

“Our goal is to be ready when the market picks up again, offering not only high-quality products, but also more sustainable solutions,” Ellamaa concludes.

A strong industrial fit in Muuga

True to its name, Muuga Betoonelement’s manufacturing operations are located in Muuga, within the Muuga Industrial Park, in close proximity to Muuga Harbour. This location places the company at the heart of Estonia’s most important industrial and logistics hub.

Muuga Harbour, located next to Tallinn, is Estonia’s largest and deepest cargo port and in the Baltic Sea region. Handling nearly half of the Port of Tallinn’s total cargo volume, the harbour supports a wide range of cargo types, including liquid bulk, dry bulk, containers, breakbulk, and Ro‑Ro cargo. Operating within a free zone, Muuga Harbour offers simplified customs procedures and VAT advantages for goods imported temporarily for processing or re-export.

For industrial companies like Muuga Betoonelement, this ecosystem creates long-term value: proximity to raw materials, efficient logistics connections, and a business environment designed to support manufacturing, innovation, and international trade. By highlighting companies that operate and invest in Muuga, the Port of Tallinn showcases how its industrial areas and harbours enable resilient, future-oriented businesses even in challenging market conditions.