Finland Boosts Plastic Packaging Recycling with Major Investments in Sorting Capacity
Finland currently recycles just over 30% of its plastic packaging, falling short of the EU’s goal of recycling 50% by the end of 2025. To bridge this gap, both packaging producers and households must increase their sorting efforts. A key barrier has been the limited capacity within Finland to process plastic waste, but this challenge is now being addressed through significant investments by Finnish Packaging Producers Ltd (FPP) and Sumi Oy.
Finnish Packaging Producers Expand Collaboration with Remeo
FPP, which represents about 70-75% of Finland’s plastic packaging producers, is deepening its cooperation with recycling company Remeo. Remeo is investing in new technology at its Vantaa facility, which will dramatically boost Finland’s sorting capacity and allow more plastic packaging to be recycled locally.
The partnership, which began in 2023, assessed the current capacity of Remeo’s facility and has now upgraded it with near-infrared (NIR) identification technology to better sort different types of plastics. By the end of 2025, most sorting is expected to take place in Vantaa, with FPP’s contract with Sweden’s Site Zero ending in 2026.
Pekka Tommola, CEO of FPP, says, “Our goal is to start processing most of Finland’s plastic packaging in Finland by 2026. We are pleased to have increased plastic sorting capacity so quickly, which benefits our Finnish producer customers.”
Steps to Achieve Recycling Targets
According to Tommola, reaching Finland’s recycling targets will require three critical actions:
-
Consumers and companies must double the amount of plastic packaging they recycle.
-
Packaging design must be improved to ensure recyclability.
-
Businesses must act now to comply with the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, which mandates all packaging to be recyclable by 2030.
FPP supports its members by providing tools like RecyClass to test packaging recyclability and has developed international design guidelines in collaboration with the Finnish Packaging Association.
Earlier in 2025, FPP was recognized as a packaging producer organization in Åland, expanding its influence.
Sumi Oy’s New Sorting Facility
Sumi Oy has partnered with Fortum to upgrade its sorting infrastructure, addressing limitations of the old facility which was designed for different input materials. Under a recent agreement, Sumi purchased the construction plans, permits, lease, and plastic supply agreements for a new modern sorting plant, which will be operated on the same site as Fortum’s washing and granulation operations.
Mika Surakka, Managing Director of Sumi Oy, explains, “Sorting and recycling will be conducted on the same site, reducing transport costs and ensuring high sorting accuracy using technology not used elsewhere in the world.”
Construction has started but faced temporary delays due to insurance challenges stemming from risk perceptions in the circular economy sector. Sumi plans to resolve this by seeking foreign insurance providers, aiming to have the facility operational by Q2 2026.
Chemical Recycling and Higher Quality Outputs
The new facility will also enhance chemical recycling, which allows processing of rejects from mechanical sorting into new plastic raw materials. Sumi is working with WasteWise Oy to ramp up this process, which will enable production of food-grade recycled plastics—a major advancement.
Syklo’s Circular Economy Hub in Hyvinkää
Adding to these efforts, circular economy company Syklo Oy is investing €70-80 million in a new recycling hub in Hyvinkää, set to be operational in early 2026. This hub will increase Finland’s recycling capacity by about 50,000 tons annually, handling a wide variety of plastic waste, including consumer, industrial, and retail packaging.
Teemu Koskela, Managing Director of Syklo, emphasizes, “Our facility aims to produce high-value, durable products that bind carbon and genuinely promote recycling.”
These combined investments and innovations position Finland to significantly improve its plastic packaging recycling rates, contributing to national and EU circular economy goals.