A fresh M.Sc. (Circular Economy) Kiti Mononen from Borealis has successfully completed her research work as a part of her Master’s thesis. Kiti’s research focused on comparing Chain of Custody (CoC) models and their advantages/disadvantages in plastic products’ green transition.
With a background in environmental engineering, Kiti Mononen has been working with environmental topics and safety at production plants at Borealis for almost eight years. More recently, she has immersed herself into energy topics and works as an Energy and C limate Specialist. Kiti has always been drawn to continuous learning and development. Combined with interest in the thematic of the SPIRIT programme led her to pursue a Master’s degree in Circular Economy at LUT University.
The study compares chain of custody models
Raw materials for plastic products are in transition as fossil feedstocks are more and more replaced with renewable and recycled ones to boost circular carbon economy and reduce environmental footprint. To determine the share of circular material content in the final product, an established chain of custody procedure is needed.
Kiti Mononen’s Master’s thesis, named Comparison of chain of custody models in plastic products’ green transition: case Borealis Polymers Oy, is a study of the chain of custody models and their role in the green transition for plastic products. In her thesis, Kiti compared the
applicability and advantages/disadvantages of five chain of custody models at different stages of the raw material transition from fossil to circular-based of the plastic product. She evaluated the reliability of sustainability claims, the technical arrangements required by different chain of custody models, and the implications of switching models within the industry.
In addition to literature research, Kiti Mononen conducted several interviews both at Borealis and by benchmarking the questions with representatives from the Finnish forest industry.
Mass balance method turned out to be the most applicable chain of custody model
In her study, Kiti found out that the mass balance method is the most applicable one of the five chain of custody models for plastic products in the current situation. This is because of the limited availability of raw material in relation to the amount needed by the production plant. The downside of mass balance method is the uncertainty in determining the existence of circular material in the final product. However, mass balance offers plastic producers a way to communicate their contribution to circular based feedstock sourcing.
Kiti Mononen sums up: “Communicating these complex concepts to consumers remains a challenge. Perhaps companies should focus on explaining how their products support and promote the use of waste-based raw materials and the circular economy rather than overwhelming consumers with technical details. The findings also show that companies must prepare for evolving times and requirements, which may bring along new regulatory standards.”
SPIRIT programme manager Jaakko Tuomainen from Borealis was guiding Kiti Mononen during her thesis work. He says: “In the ramp-up of renewable and recycled feedstock in plastic production, it is necessary to have a credible and understandable chain of custody system in place. Kiti’s thesis contributes to the understanding of sustainable practices and provides some practical tips for companies aiming to align themselves with the green transition of plastics.” He concludes: “Borealis has taken the first step with its externally audited ISCC Plus mass-balance certification, but the work highlights the dynamic nature of chain-of-custody: considering the changing recycling regulations and customer needs and translating those to the chain-of-custody, it will secure Borealis to stay ahead in the green transition.”