Closed Plastic Circle – from Pilots into Practice

In a plastic workshop implemented together with Muoviamo(external link, opens in a new window), Espoo residents could try making items from recycled plastic themselves. Old plastics items, provided by the residents or the workshop, were crushed and melted and poured into moulds to turn them into new objects, such as dishes and jewellery. The pilot brought Muoviamo several new contacts and cooperation proposals, and the plastic workshop concept has since continued to grow rapidly.

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Plastic workshop showcased the benefits of recycling (published on 13 November 2023)

The grand opening of Tapiola’s May Day was celebrated in May 2024 with reusable dishes provided by the project. Of the plates borrowed without a pledge, all were returned, and about 90% of the glasses and cups. Both vendors and customers were satisfied with the experiment. Practical experiences in the arrangement and reception of reuse are important on the path towards a broader change.

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Reusable dishes part of Tapiola May Day(published on 10 June 2024)

In the popularised exhibition “Plastic Dreams”, visitors get to learn about different plastics and the responsible use of plastics. Through adorable plastic characters, visitors learn that it is not difficult to use plastic sustainably, as long as you remember that all material has the potential to be good. The exhibition will tour various public spaces, and you can also enquire if it could visit a place proposed by you.

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Plastic dreams – What will Peter Polymer become when he grows up?

The project piloted technology offered by EPS International(external link, opens in a new window) which uses heat and pressure to compress styrofoam to a few per cent of its original volume. This significantly improves the quality of the recycled plastic and the profitability of transport. The experiment yielded good results and the method seems functional: the material obtained from compressed fish boxes was well suited for reuse.

The renovation of the Espoonlahti health centre involved piloting, in cooperation with construction site contractor Jatke and pipe manufacturer Meltex, a method in which any post-installation leftover pipes are recycled into new pipes. At the construction site, about 7% of the rainwater, drainage and cable pipes installed was left over, and of this 7%, about 69% could be recycled into new pipes at the Meltex factory.

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Recycling installation waste – pilot project at Espoonlahti Health Centre construction site encourages continuation (published 15.11.2024)

The project tested whether mushrooms, which consumers know from grocery stores, such as oyster mushrooms, can be trained to use plastic as their food. The mushrooms were grown in a laboratory in various culture media that included different amounts of plastics. Microscopic tests of the mushrooms showed signs of microplastics, but we cannot say for sure if they used plastic to boost their own growth. The experiment provides a solid foundation for further research.

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MuoviPlast: Hajottavatko koulutetut sienet muovia?(external link, opens in a new window) (in Finnish) (published on 11 October 2024)

We excavated the depths of the Ämmässuo landfill and discovered plastic waste buried there ages ago. Our aim was to find out whether the waste could be turned into raw material for recycled plastic products. A lot of valuable polyethylene and other packaging plastics were found underground. However, the plastic was very dirty, so further utilisation would require specialised washing and processing equipment.

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HSY.fi: HSY:n kaatopaikkamuovit syynissä(external link, opens in a new window) (in Finnish) (published on 12 October 2023)

The demolition plastic tool is a computational model that assesses the emission and cost impacts of recycling or incineration of demolition waste. The tool can assess different waste components separately, and all the model’s parameters can be adjusted. The tool, which had already been launched, was updated in the project to take better account of the possibilities of chemical recycling and to specify the amount of material available for recovery in different recycling scenarios (mass yield).

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VTT: Laskennallinen tarkastelu rakennusten purkumuovien hyödyntämismahdollisuuksista – laajennettu kemiallinen kierrätys(external link, opens in a new window) (in Finnish)

More extensive use of recycled plastics requires reliable information on the quality and properties of the recycled materials. What can and may recycled plastic be used for, and how? And what standards are related to its use? The information collected in the project on various recycled plastics and their recycling potential and use was compiled into a so-called recipe book.

A survey of the overall state of plastic circulation in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and Lahti helped us understand what is already working in plastic circulation and what needs urgent support. According to the survey, the recycling rate of plastic packaging has increased in recent years, but there is still work to be done in relation to other plastics.

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Packaging plastic circulates relatively well in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and Lahti – hard plastic and construction plastic not so much (published on 18 January 2024)

Plastic waste data for cities in the HSY area is now available city-specifically. On the website, which is open to all, you can review different cities’ plastic waste volumes in plastic waste collection, in mixed waste collection and at Sortti stations. The data gives clear feedback to all of us plastic users: there is too much plastic in mixed waste.

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HSY.fi: Hankkeessa tuotettu HSY:n muovijätetieto(external link, opens in a new window) (in Finnish) (published on 15 January 2024)

At three test schools in Espoo, we attached sensors to the lids of the waste bins, and the sensors collected data about the filling rate of mixed and plastic waste bins. The data was used to determine how efficiently the bins were used and how much plastic the schools typically produce. The results complemented the existing statistical data on the amount of waste in schools, and this more specific data will help in the development and enhancement of waste management in the test schools as well as in all other schools.

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Making data more accurate and success more visible – sensor experiments developed waste management at schools (published on 4 June 2024)

The project prepared, on the basis of extensive scientific literature analysis, a report on the environmental impact of plastic recycling technologies. Preparing the report involved reviewing approximately 100 studies published between 2010 and 2023 that had life cycle assessments of the environmental impact of plastic recycling technologies. Based on the results, mechanical recycling is currently the most environmentally beneficial option for clean and sorted plastic waste – chemical recycling, on the other hand, offers promising solutions for challenging waste streams. Ultimately, the environmental impact is always due to several factors.

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VTT: Environmental impacts of plastic recycling – a literature review(external link, opens in a new window)

How can we increase the amount of recycled plastic waste? The project contemplated, through its own results and visions as well as views borrowed from elsewhere, the broad strokes of the circular economy of plastics in the future. Investing in the separate collection of packaging in the future as well is likely a worthwhile effort, but there is also a lot of recyclable plastic in mixed waste that could be utilised. Chemical recycling will support mechanical recycling.

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Coming up!

Imagining the future can be difficult, but each of us plays a part in the formation of the future. The future map of plastic for 2050, created in the project, aims to help in assuming one’s own role and perceiving a future of one’s own liking and the chain of events leading to it. The future map was created in spring 2024 together with users and manufacturers of plastic.

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Future map for plastics – in what kind of world will we live in 2050? (published on 7 May 2024)

In dialogue with companies, municipalities and other experts in the field, the project created procurement criteria related to plastic recycling for construction procurements. The most important criterion is the requirement for separate collection of plastic film on construction sites. Comprehensive instructions to support the implementation of the criteria were also prepared. The criteria and instructions are available on kriteeripankki.fi(external link, opens in a new window) maintained by Motiva, and have already been piloted in Espoo procurement.

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Newly released public procurement criteria improve recycling rate of construction plastics (published on 28 May 2024)

Construction plastic cycle can be promoted through procurement – view training summary(published on 17 October 2024)

Survey results:Recycled plastic is often used to package construction products, but verifying its share is more challenging(published on 22 August 2024)

Recycling installation waste – pilot project at Espoonlahti Health Centre construction site encourages continuation (published 15.11.2024)

Metropolia student’s survey indicates that many Finnish companies are working on the recycling polyethene film plastics (published 13.11.2024)

Construction plastic cycle can be promoted through procurement – view training summary (published 1.11.2024)

Survey results: Recycled plastic is often used to package construction products, but verifying its share is more challenging (published 22.8.2024)

Reusable dishes part of Tapiola May Day (published 10.6.2024)

Newly released public procurement criteria improve recycling rate of construction plastics (publiched 10.6.2024)

Future map for plastics – in what kind of world will we live in 2050? (published 5.6.2024)

Making data more accurate and success more visible – sensor experiments developed waste management at schools (published 4.6.2024)

Webinar 21.5.2024: From Trash to Recycled Plastics - Future Recycling Systems(external link, opens in a new window)  (published 22.4.2024)

Visions of better life at the heart of Plastics Future Day (published 14.3.2024)

Survey: Municipalities’ attitude towards construction plastics procurement (published 21.2024)

Packaging plastic circulates relatively well in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and Lahti – hard plastic and construction plastic not so much (published 18.1.2024)

Sensors measure school waste volumes (published 11.1.2024)

Plastic workshop showcased the benefits of recycling (published 13.11.2023)

How can public procurements support circulation of plastics? (published 13.9.2023)

Calm your mind and add new nuances to your everyday life in the plastic workshop – there is still time to sign up! (published 31.5.2023)

Increasing the recycling of plastic requires long-term cooperation (published 28.4.2023)

Tell us about information needed for improving the circulation of plastic (published 31.3.2023)

Get a grip on plastic: give a useless plastic item a new lease of life by bringing it to a library collection point or participating in a plastic workshop (published 17.3.2023)

Work to increase the plastic recycling rate continues (published 1.2.2023)

The computational model developed by VTT for the Smart & Clean Foundation enables the demolition operator to make a preliminary assessment of different cost and emission structures depending on the recycling rate of plastics collected from a demolition site. Thus, the model allows a preliminary assessment of the cost-effectiveness of collecting demolition plastics at different sites. The demolition operator can calculate the costs and carbon dioxide emissions for different options. The model has not yet been developed into an open online tool accessible to all, but information on the methodology and examples are provided in the attached report.

The study produced by Afry for the Smart & Clean Foundation provides an overview of the possible uses and markets for recycled plastic, at a general level but especially in the construction of infrastructure. The aim was to examine the use of recycled (hard) plastic in various technical structures, such as noise barriers and outdoor furniture, and in playgrounds and sports fields.

The study showed that recycled plastic is not commonly used in the construction of infrastructure and that only a small percentage of hard plastic is collected compared to packaging plastic, even though roughly the same amount of both plastics is generated. The use of and the market for recycled plastic are limited, in particular, by the challenges related to the collection and quality of plastic and the lack of standardisation. Challenges in collection were often related to a lack of space and other logistical issues.

The purpose of the study produced by Ramboll for the Smart & Clean Foundation was to provide an accurate overview of the current state of environmental requirements and construction site practices and to identify the biggest challenges and bottlenecks of waste recycling.

According to the study, the challenges related to waste collection at construction sites include attitudes, non-commitment by management, and lack of resources and training. Concrete challenges include limited spaces, tight schedules, inadequate equipment, the fragmented structure of the sector and the use of several subcontractors. The best practices mentioned in the report include close cooperation with different operators, strengthening the commitment of management, training employees and subcontractors, preparing a waste management plan at the early stages of the project, monitoring the implementation of waste management during the construction project, responding to deficiencies, and providing adequate resources for response measures.

A study carried out by Aalto University and the Ministry of the Environment aimed at measuring and modelling the amount and quality of plastic film waste generated in the construction of apartment buildings. This study, commissioned by the Smart & Clean Foundation, was carried out as a literature review to provide a foundation for a research report to be compiled later. The literature review showed that further research is needed into the amount, origin and quality of plastic film waste generated in construction. You can read about the final results and the modelling tool created based on the findings here(external link, opens in a new window).

Commissioned by the Smart & Clean Foundation, Afry developed a concrete chain of measures for achieving a 50% recycling rate for plastic packaging in the Helsinki and Lahti regions. The chain of measures includes the entire life cycle of plastic packaging from design to the use of recycled raw material. One finding of the study was that in addition to sorting and collecting, it is essential to promote the recyclability of plastic packaging and the development of the market for recycled plastics. It was also noted that the collection rate could be further increased by providing information and advice.

The data model for packaging plastics created by Taival Advisory can illustrate the different flows of packaging plastics, enabling us to better understand the changes that must be made to the various flows in order to achieve the desired end result. The Excel tool allows users to collect, monitor and visualise information on plastics and share it with both internal and external partners. Attached you will find the report prepared on the development work and the first demo version of the tool.