VTT has announced that it will license its mixed plastic recycling technology, Olefy, to Refinity, a US-based company focused on developing and commercializing innovative waste recovery technologies. This global license allows Refinity, a new subsidiary of Innventure Inc., to utilize VTT's chemical recycling technology for mixed plastic waste.

Source: PackagingEurope

Refinity aims to profitably recycle even low-quality plastic waste into materials that match the quality of new products. These recycled materials are particularly suitable for use in industries such as food and pharmaceuticals.

VTT’s technology efficiently converts unsorted mixed plastic waste into essential raw materials for the petrochemical sector, including ethylene and propene. This method enhances the recycling potential of plastic waste that cannot be processed mechanically and is typically sent to landfills or incinerated for energy.

Refinity plans to scale the technology and implement it in new commercial plastic waste recycling facilities. Dow is expected to provide technical resources to support the design and implementation of this process, collaborating with Refinity to identify suitable locations for future production.

The Olefy technology has reportedly been successfully demonstrated on a pilot scale at the VTT Bioruukki pilot center in Espoo, Finland.

Last summer, VTT launched an initiative to develop low-carbon, water-efficient technology, claiming it could reduce water consumption by up to 90% and cut overall energy use by more than half. This initiative seeks to tackle the challenges related to energy and resource consumption in the forestry and textile industries.

By the end of 2024, VTT plans to introduce a new technology for shaping cardboard into reel-to-reel, origami-inspired structures for fiber-based packaging materials. This development is a collaborative effort with Aalto University and Finnish industrial partners. VTT asserts that these lightweight and durable structures offer an aesthetically pleasing alternative to traditional protective packing materials like plastic and expanded polystyrene.