The four-year SPIRIT programme (Sustainable Plastics Industry Transformation), led by Borealis and supported by Business Finland, has driven diverse and long-term research and development work to promote the circular economy for plastics. Together with an extensive group of partners, new solutions have been sought for the reuse of plastics, recycling and manufacturing processes, product design and renewable raw materials. This has created significant opportunities for the Finnish plastics industry and waste sector to build new sustainable business.
The transformation to a more sustainable plastics industry is a major and long-term change that requires systematic cross-sectoral cooperation, new ways of working and relentless development work. SPIRIT programme has succeeded in creating an active ecosystem bringing together key companies and research groups from different parts of business and research value chains to work towards common goals. Through cooperation, critical challenges have been identified, solutions developed and transferred into practice. The main objectives of the programme have been to replace fossil feedstocks with renewable and circular, develop mechanical and chemical recycling of plastics and make plastic production carbon neutral.
”The SPIRIT mission set by Borealis has been seen highly important among our partners, and that’s why a comprehensive ecosystem has been created under the programme. Cooperation to achieve our ambitious targets has been systematic and diverse,” says Satu Kosonen-Kaija, CEO of Borealis Polymers Oy, adding, ”I would like to thank everyone involved, as well as Business Finland, whose support has enabled us to explore new solutions for the circular economy of plastics. Although the SPIRIT programme is coming to an end, the work will continue in various forms with our partners.”
Intensive collaboration has been carried out with over 100 partners in 21 ecosystem projects. Key results and conclusions of the programme, which ends at the end of the year, were presented at the programme’s final event at the Porvoo Art Factory on October 28, 2025.
Plastics are well suited to the circular economy
”The incineration of plastic waste must be reduced and its durability and excellent recyclability make it perfect material for circular solutions. Increased recycling also reduces the need for fossil raw materials,” says Jaakko Tuomainen, Head of the SPIRIT programme at Borealis Polymers Oy. ”We have successfully trialed not only chemically recycled raw materials, but also bio-based raw materials at Borealis’ production facilities in Porvoo. These new-generation raw materials have been used to manufacture e.g. plastic pipes as well as food and other packaging. While the market growth has been modest so far, demand for these products is steadily building,” said Tuomainen.
In addition to technical development, the progress of the circular economy of plastics is significantly linked to the development of markets and the regulations that govern them. Thanks to the extensive R&D work within SPIRIT programme and recent investments by Borealis in Porvoo, the company has now the capability to increase the production of circular polyolefins based on renewable feedstock as the demand grows.
SPIRIT ecosystem power seen live at Taidetehdas
The final event gathered together more than 200 experts from various fields to discuss the achievements of the SPIRIT programme The agenda included two thematic sessions titled Sustainable feedstock and Circular plastics which summarised the key results and conclusions of the joint R&D work. Borealis views, presented by Satu Kosonen-Kaija, CEO of Borealis Polymers Oy. Keynotes by Lassi Noponen, Director General and CEO of Business Finland and Craig Arnold, Executive Vice President at Borealis, shaped a wider context for the SPIRIT work highlighting its importance and impact. Naturally, in the spirit of ecosystem collaboration, networking around the results exhibition presenting all 21 ecosystem projects, exchanging ideas with peers and building new ones was an important part of the event.
SPIRIT has built critical new knowledge for circular plastics, developed and assessed many concrete solutions needed in different parts of the value chain and created relevant joint understanding for the next steps needed. The work towards circular plastic industry continues together! Stay tuned.