Long-term ecosystem work at the forefront of the circular economy for plastics
Since 2019, 4R has been operating as Finland’s national open innovation ecosystem in the circular economy for plastics and bio-based materials that replace fossil-based plastics. The ecosystem has brought together more than 600 organizations from industry, research, and the public sector and has been involved in preparing nearly €200 million worth of research, development, and innovation projects.
“The circular economy for plastics is not just a technical issue, but a change in the entire prevailing system. The task of 4R is to ensure that Finnish operators have the prerequisites to turn regulation and environmental challenges into competitive advantages and new business opportunities,” says Jussi Lahtinen, CLIC Innovation, leader of the 4R ecosystem.
In the new project phase, 4R will intensify its activities and focus its development work more clearly on the biggest structural challenges in the circular economy for plastics. The work will focus on three complementary areas:
- Packaging: Reusable and recyclable packaging solutions in line with the EU’s new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)
- Engineering plastics and composites: extending product life cycles, repairability, reuse, and advanced recycling solutions, as well as renewable material alternatives
- Textiles: renewable, repairable, reusable, and recyclable textiles and textile fibers
The circular economy will not happen on its own, and markets must be reshaped
The transition to a circular economy requires systemic change – changes to markets, infrastructures, and business models. The key role of the 4R ecosystem is to identify bottlenecks in the circular economy and turn them into concrete development paths: joint RDI projects, pilots, and investment-enabling entities.
“The PlastLIFE project focuses on developing solutions that promote the circular economy for plastics, their implementation, and communication. The 4R ecosystem provides a platform where the results of the project can be shared, utilized, and further developed in collaboration with companies and other actors.” – Helena Dahlbo, Finnish Environment Institute
Close collaboration with decision-makers and national projects
4R works closely with the Ministry of the Environment, among others, and is linked to major national and international projects, such as PlastLIFE, alongside extensive corporate cooperation. The aim of this cooperation is to ensure that research data, corporate development work, and the regulatory environment support each other and that Finland is profiled as a pioneer of circular economy solutions in Europe.
“The implementation of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and the objectives of Finland’s plastics roadmap emphasize the need for cooperation and practical development work. The 4R ecosystem promotes these goals by supporting cooperation between actors in the circular economy of plastics,” comments Merja Saarnilehto from the Ministry of the Environment.
Continued funding will enable the 4R ecosystem to move on to the next phase in the circular economy for plastics: developing practical solutions and scaling them up for the market.
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