A pilot programme to convert captured carbon dioxide into recyclable plastics has been launched in Finland.

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, in collaboration with LUT University and several industry partners, has inaugurated a pilot plant in Espoo that aims to transform captured carbon dioxide into sustainable plastic products.

The “Forest CUMP” project explores how carbon dioxide emissions from industries, such as the forestry sector and waste incineration, can be captured and converted into products like polypropylene and polyethylene commonly used in everyday items.

“With around 30 million tonnes of bio-based carbon dioxide produced annually, Finland could become a major producer and exporter of polymers and transport fuels derived from carbon dioxide and hydrogen,” says Juha Lehtonen, Research Professor at VTT.

The pilot plant in Espoo will test these concepts on a large scale, aiming to prove that biogenic carbon dioxide can be captured and converted into high-value materials. By sequestering carbon dioxide in durable plastic products, Finland could tap into a significant export opportunity for renewable, high-value-added products. The country’s extensive forestry industry provides a unique advantage as large sources of bio-based carbon dioxide are scarce outside the Nordic region, according to VTT.

The pilot plant will demonstrate the entire value chain from carbon capture to the production of ethylene and propylene – the building blocks of polyethylene and polypropylene. Currently, these materials are produced at VTT Bioruukki from flue gas carbon dioxide. The goal is to eventually bring this technology into full-scale production in industries where bio-based carbon dioxide is generated such as the forestry industry or waste incineration plants.

The Forest CUMP project, funded by Business Finland, began in August 2022 and is scheduled to run until the end of 2024.