Fortum: Biodegradable Plastic Produced from CO2 Emissions at Finnish Plant
Fortum Recycling & Waste says it has produced biodegradable plastic from CO2 emissions following waste incineration at its plant in Riihimaki, Finland.
The process, based on carbon capture and utilization (CCU), could be a game changer to help reduce and utilize industrial CO2 emissions, if proven in the marketplace. According to Tony Rehn, Head of the Carbon2x program, the production of CO2-based plastic provides a new, sustainable raw material for the plastics industry.
Fortum Recycling & Waste's Carbon2x program aims to capture CO2 emissions from the incineration of non-recyclable waste and use them to produce sustainable products, such as biodegradable plastic.
While similar carbon capture development projects are under process in various industrial sectors in Finland and globally, the majority of these projects focus on the production of synthetic fuels and carbon capture and storage (CCS).
"Captured carbon dioxide should be utilized as a new raw material instead of storing it underground or releasing it into the atmosphere when using fuel. Utilizing captured CO2 is a much more sustainable option in terms of tackling resource scarcity in the future,” Rehn said. “Whereas carbon capture and storage is a linear solution that does not address the growing material shortage, carbon capture and utilization promotes circular economy.”
According to Rehn, implementing the Carbon2x program's innovation will enable capturing and bounding of up to 90 percent of the CO2 emissions released in the atmosphere from waste incineration into products. The Carbon2x program is also expected to provide solutions for material production for food and cosmetics packaging and other sectors like toys and home electronics.
Additionally, new sustainable solutions are required for plastic production to match the recycled and bio-based plastics. Biodegradable, CO2-based plastic offers an alternative to the market as it has the similar qualitative properties like traditional, fossil-based virgin plastics.
Biodegradable, CO2-based plastic can be recycled like many other plastics, closing the carbon cycle.
It decomposes and does not leave harmful microplastics in the environment.
Rehn has estimated the industrial production of biodegradable plastic made from waste incineration's CO2 emissions to start as early as the end of the decade.
