Page 156 - CW E-Magazine (29-10-2024)

News from Abroad

PILOT PROJECT
Fortum successfully produces biodegradable plastic

from CO emissions
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Fortum Recycling & Waste, Finland’s carbon capture and storage (CCS).
waste management and circular solu- “Captured CO should be utilised as
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tions company, has succeeded in a new raw material instead of storing
producing biodegradable plastic it underground or releasing it into the
from carbon dioxide (CO ) emissions atmosphere when using fuel.
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from waste incineration at its plant in
Riihimäki, Finland. Utilising captured CO is a much
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more sustainable option in terms of
The project is part of the company’s tackling resource scarcity in the future.
‘Carbon2x’ concept, launched in April “This breakthrough, based on car- Whereas carbon capture & storage is a
2022, to recycle otherwise non-recycla- bon capture and utilisation (CCU), is linear solution that does not address the
ble waste by capturing the CO emis- a significant step towards reducing and growing material shortage, carbon cap-
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sions generated from its incineration utilising industrial CO emissions. I am ture and utilisation promotes circular
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and returning the CO to the material very proud that our team is the first in economy,” Mr. Rehn explained.
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cycle as high-quality plastics. As per the world to successfully produce bio-
the company, the pilot project is the degradable plastic entirely from CO He estimated that at this rate of
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first of its kind in the world. emissions,” he added. development, the industrial production
of biodegradable plastic made from
According to Mr. Tony Rehn, Head Similar carbon capture develop- waste incineration’s CO emissions
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of the Carbon2x programme, the pro- ment projects are underway in several could start as early as the end of the
duction of CO -based plastic provides industrial sectors in Finland and glob- decade. The new “plastics born from
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a new, sustainable raw material for the ally, but the majority of them focus on CO ” brand will be introduced to the
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plastics industry. the production of synthetic fuels and European market in November 2024.
INVESTMENT
Econic gets funding to accelerate commercialisation

of CO surfactants
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Econic Technologies, a UK-based fossil-based feedstocks with renewable while improving the performance and
tech company focused on renewable carbon. circularity of products. “Our customers
carbon, has closed an equity fundrais- in the US, China, and other regions plan
ing round that will accelerate delivery The company licenses its techno- on bringing CO polyols to market in
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for its customers in the polyols market logy to polyols and surfactants manu- the coming months. But climate change
and support the commercialisation of facturers that supply global consumer is looming, and the renewable carbon
its new CO surfactant technology. brands and manufacturers. economy can’t come fast enough. This
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fresh injection of capital will help
The round was led by new inves- Econic’s technology has applica- accelerate delivery of sustainable polyols
tor Taranis Carbon Ventures with fol- tions in furniture & mattresses, auto- and new CO surfactants, so that more
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low-on investment from Capricorn motive, paint & coatings, home & consumer brands and industrial compa-
Partners, CM Venture Capital, ING personal care, construction, and tex- nies can switch to renewable materials
Sustainable Investments and GC Ven- tiles & apparel. As per the company, and meet their sustainability targets
tures. Econic offers a patented process the technology can help reduce carbon sooner,” said Econic’s CEO Mr. Keith
based on a unique catalyst that replaces footprint and cost along the value chain Wiggins.

156 Chemical Weekly October 29, 2024

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