Enabling Circular Economy for Plastics: Novel approaches to Product Design and Logistics

Themes of product design and logistical solutions were explored on November 27th in a seminar organized by the PlastLIFE project and the SPIRIT programme, aimed at advancing the circular economy for plastics. Over a hundred experts convened to seek solutions for both the inception and conclusion of the plastic lifecycle.

Circular economy-oriented product design challenges single-use culture

Product design trends have traditionally emphasized the seasonal fashion, company sales and market strategies, and replacing the old with a new. With the rise of environmental values, product design is shifting towards sustainable materials and recycling.

Professor Jonna Häkkilä and her team at the University of Lapland are investigating the possibilities of product design in the PlastLIFE project. In her keynote at the seminar, Häkkilä highlighted how changes in consumer behavior impact the work of product designers:

“Citizens are increasingly becoming active agents in the product’s life cycle, and movements such as upcycling and DIY challenge the conventional ways of thinking in product design. This talk takes the viewpoint of co-design and citizen engagement, particularly in the context of reducing, reusing and recycling plastics.”

Recycled plastic in new products: an act for the climate

By investing in plastic recycling and utilizing recycled plastic in new products, the need for virgin materials can be reduced, along with the incineration of plastic waste, consequently decreasing environmental impact.

“When considering the climate benefits of high-grade and low-grade plastics recycling, downcycling can significantly postpone incineration of waste plastics, which is good for the climate. However, high-grade recycling is better because it can reduce both incineration and primary production of plastics,” explained Researcher and Advisor Tomas Ekvall, Adjunct professor at Chalmers University of Technology in his seminar presentation.

What will the future of circular economy logistics look like?

The growth in sorting and collection of packaging waste threatens to increase the carbon footprint of recycling logistics. It has been suggested to explore whether the carbon footprint of recycling logistics can be reduced by simplifying the collection of packaging waste and improving their sorting on an industrial scale. 

In his keynote Research professor Ali Harlin, VTT Technical Research Centre, said that contemporary packaging waste logistics face two main challenges: namely increasing complexity and thereafter reduction of efficiency.

“In the future we have to improve the robustness of the sorting in order to control logistics impact on total carbon footprint without compromising the achievable quality of collected material streams,” says Professor Harlin.

Enhancing circular economy for plastics through product design and logistics development

Developing new solutions requires collaborative ideation and combining expertise from various fields. Expert workshops held during the event sought perspectives and new opportunities for product design and logistics solutions.

"Through design, it's possible to impact the reduction of unnecessary plastic consumption, improve product reparability, replace fossil raw material usage, and promote reuse and recycling at various stages. Material choices and structural solutions in product design, as well as the design of service systems for reusable products, are examples of new opportunities," summarized Helena Dahlbo, Senior Research Scientist, and project manager of the PlastLIFE project.

In the other afternoon workshop, waste collection was discussed. The topic and the proposed scenario study generated widespread interest.

Says Jari Lehtinen, head of the SPIRIT programme: “The abundant comments provided by the participants regarding various waste collection models are valuable content when shaping a more concrete research plan on the subject.”

Seminar: A successful demonstration of the importance of cross-collaboration in projects

The 'Enabling the Circular Economy of Plastics' seminar, gathering over a hundred professionals from the business and research realms interested in plastic circularity, took place at Espoo's Innopoli. This collaborative event was organized by two nationwide project alliances that began last year: the PlastLIFE project led by the Finnish Environment Institute and the SPIRIT programme led by Borealis Polymers. PlastLIFE and SPIRIT, along with their partners, are dedicated to enabling sustainable circular economy practices, enhancing plastic recycling, and promoting the utilization of recycled plastics.

PlastLIFE and SPIRIT bring together over 60 partners to work towards accelerating the circular economy of plastics. The collaboration includes plastic industry stakeholders, recycling companies, organizations, research institutions, and universities. PlastLIFE, coordinated by the Finnish Environment Institute and funded by the EU's LIFE programme, promotes the goals of Finland's Plastic Roadmap, aiming to reduce and avoid unnecessary plastic consumption, enhance plastic recycling, and replace fossil-based raw materials in production. Meanwhile, SPIRIT aims to steer Finland's plastic industry towards manufacturing plastic based on renewable resources, achieving carbon-neutral production, and establishing a functional circular economy for plastics. The programme, led by Borealis Polymers, is funded by Business Finland.