NG Nordic's project to produce plastic from carbon dioxide is moving towards an industrial-scale pilot plant in Riihimäki, Finland - preliminary agreement on land acquisition signed with the city of Riihimäki

NG Nordic and the City of Riihimäki in Finland have signed a preliminary agreement for the acquisition of land for the next phases of the Carbon2x program. The aim of the program is to recover the carbon dioxide emissions from the incineration of non-recyclable waste and to produce responsible products, such as biodegradable plastics.

Under the agreement, NG Nordic will acquire a total of 18 hectares of land from the City of Riihimäki. One of the plots is intended for the construction of an industrial-scale pilot plant for carbon dioxide capture and plastics production. The other land would be used for the construction of a commercial-scale plant. 

The industrial-scale pilot plant will recover up to 20 000 tons of CO2 per year from waste incineration flue gases. The recovered carbon dioxide will be used to produce biodegradable PHA plastic.

"The signing of the preliminary agreement is an important milestone in our Carbon2x project towards our goal of launching industrial-scale operations before the turn of the decade. This unique project will help reduce dependence on fossil-based raw materials and make waste incineration more environmentally friendly. Carbon-free waste incineration, together with conventional recycling, is the future of waste management," says Tony Rehn, Carbon2x Project Director. 

NG Nordic's plans also support the achievement of the City of Riihimäki's ambitious 2050 zero emission target, as the greenhouse gas emissions from the production of district heat used in Riihimäki will be counted towards Riihimäki's emissions. NG Nordic's Riihimäki plants produce electricity and district heat for the residents of Riihimäki and Hyvinkää.

"The project will make a significant contribution to the city's decarbonization goals and its objective of being a sustainable growth community. At the same time, it is a shining example of the kind of globally unique innovation we need to ensure a sustainable future. We are very proud that NG Nordic wants to expand its operations in Riihimäki and locate its industrial-scale pilot plant here," says Anna-Riitta Kujala, Director of Vitality of the City of Riihimäki.

Anna-Riitta Kujala, Director of Vitality of the City of Riihimäki, and Tony Rehn, Director of NG Nordic's Carbon2x project, signed a preliminary agreement on the acquisition of land. 

 

The project will be promoted on a broad front

In addition to the preliminary agreement for the land acquisition, the project is now moving forward on several fronts.

A broader study on the next phase of the project, the construction of an industrial-scale pilot plant, was launched in March in cooperation with Ramboll. The study will take about six months to complete

In addition, an environmental impact assessment of the pilot plant will start in summer 2025.

A €10 million pilot plant will be launched in late 2025, announced in 2023.

Target for a commercial-scale plant in the 2030s

An industrial-scale pilot plant is an intermediate step towards a full-scale plant. If the project proceeds as planned, NG Nordic could invest in a commercial-scale plant, starting up in the 2030s, with five times the capacity of the pilot plant. It would be able to capture up to 100 000 tons of carbon dioxide per year and produce plastic from it.

What is the Carbon2x project?

The innovative Carbon2x project aims to capture carbon dioxide emissions from waste incineration and use them to produce high-quality plastics for use in a variety of sectors, including food and cosmetics packaging, toys and home electronics. In autumn 2024, the company became the first in the world to produce biodegradable plastic from carbon dioxide from waste incineration.

 

Additional information:

Tony Rehn, Carbon2x project leader, NG Nordic

tony.rehn@ngnordic.com, p. +358 40 485 5857

Carbon2x – Recycled materials from CO2 | NG Nordic

 

NG Nordic

NG Nordic is a leading provider of circular solutions and environmental services, tackling the urgent challenges of climate change and resource scarcity. Through reuse, collection, recycling, and depollution NG Nordic transforms waste into valuable resources and removes hazardous substances from circulation – scaling access to circular raw materials, decarbonize society and help protect natural ecosystems. ​

​With strong presence across the Nordics, and in Poland and the UK, NG Nordic is a vital part of the Nordic industrial infrastructure handling 4.4 million of waste annually through 90 facilities and sites. With 3,400 employees, generating EUR 1,3 billion in revenue and provide tailored customer solutions across the entire value chain.