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

On April 14, 2025, NG Nordic Finland Oy (formerly Fortum Recycling & Waste) and the City of Riihimäki signed a preliminary agreement for the acquisition of land for the next phases of the Carbon2x program. The program aims to capture carbon dioxide emissions from the incineration of non-recyclable waste and use them to manufacture sustainable products such as biodegradable plastic.

According to the agreement, NG Nordic intends to acquire a total of 18 hectares of land from the city of Riihimäki. One of the land areas is intended for the construction of an industrial-scale pilot plant for carbon dioxide capture and plastic production. The other of the land areas would be utilized for the construction of a commercial-scale plant.

The industrial-scale pilot plant will capture up to 20 tons of carbon dioxide per year from waste incineration flue gases. The captured carbon dioxide is 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 combined with traditional recycling is the future of waste management,” says Tony Rehn, Project Manager at Carbon2x.

NG Nordic's plans also support the realization of the city of Riihimäki's ambitious zero-emission target by 2050, as greenhouse gas emissions from the production of district heating used in Riihimäki are counted in Riihimäki's emissions. NG Nordic's Riihimäki plants produce electricity and district heating for the residents of Riihimäki and Hyvinkää.

“The project significantly advances the city’s zero-emission goals and the city’s goal of being a community of sustainable growth. At the same time, it is a great example of the 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 right here,” says Anna-Riitta Kujala, Director of Vitality for the City of Riihimäki.

The project is being promoted on a broad front

In addition to the preliminary agreement related to the acquisition of land, the project is now progressing in several areas.

A more extensive study on the next phase of the project, namely the construction of an industrial-scale pilot plant, was launched in March in collaboration with Ramboll. The study will take approximately six months to complete.

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

The project's pilot plant, worth 2025 million euros, will start operating at the end of 10, as announced in a press release in 2023.

Aiming for a commercial-scale plant in the 2030s

The industrial-scale pilot plant is an intermediate step towards a full-scale plant. If the project progresses according to plan, NG Nordic could invest in a commercial-scale plant, which would start up in the 2030s and have a capacity five times that of the pilot plant. It would be able to capture up to 100 tons of carbon dioxide per year and produce plastic from it.

The Carbon2x project captures carbon dioxide emissions from waste incineration

The innovative Carbon2x project aims to capture carbon dioxide emissions from waste incineration and produce high-quality plastic for use in various industries, such as food and cosmetic 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 Manager,
tony.rehn@fortum.com
tel. 040 485 5857
NG Nordic

Anna-Riitta Kujala
vitality leader
tel. 040 515 0615
anna-riitta.kujala@riihimaki.fi
The city of Riihimäki

NG Nordic

NG Nordic is a leading Nordic provider of circular economy solutions and environmental services. We solve the most significant challenges of climate change and raw material shortages.

Through reuse, collection, recycling and decontamination, we transform waste into valuable raw materials and remove hazardous substances from the cycle. This enables access to raw materials for the circular economy, supports societies in reducing carbon emissions and protects natural ecosystems.

We have a strong presence in the Nordic countries and are an integral part of the region's industrial infrastructure. We also have operations in Poland and the UK. We process 4,4 million tonnes of waste annually across our 90 locations. With the expertise of our 3 employees, we offer tailored customer solutions across the value chain. Our annual turnover is EUR 400 billion.