Neste Commissions World's Largest Chemical Plastic Recycling Facility
Neste has commissioned the world's largest liquefied waste plastic (LWP) upgrading facility at its Porvoo refinery in Finland. This EUR 111 million investment enables the chemical recycling of up to 150,000 tons annually, transforming challenging waste plastic streams into high-quality petrochemical feedstock. The facility addresses plastics unsuitable for mechanical recycling, reducing virgin fossil resource consumption by over 70% and greenhouse gas emissions by over 35%, while advocating for supportive EU recycling content rules.
Neste has successfully launched its new EUR 111 million upgrading facility for liquefied waste plastic (LWP) at its Porvoo refinery in Finland, marking a significant step in scaling up chemical recycling. This facility, now the world's largest LWP upgrading plant, can process up to 150,000 tons of waste plastic annually, with production gradually ramping up from 2026. Its primary function is to transform challenging waste plastic streams, such as multi-layer packaging, mixed plastic waste, and contaminated plastics—which are typically unsuitable for mechanical recycling or destined for incineration—into high-quality, drop-in petrochemical feedstock.The innovation closes the critical quality gap between crude liquefied plastic waste and the stringent requirements of the petrochemical industry. Jori Sahlsten, Executive Vice President of Oil Products, highlighted the company's capability in developing advanced technology and establishing new supply chains for complex raw materials. Through a mass balance approach, the facility's output, Neste RE™, can reduce virgin fossil resource consumption by over 70% and greenhouse gas emissions by over 35% compared to using fossil feedstock. However, Maiju Helin, Director of Polymers and Chemicals, emphasized the need for amendments to the European Commission's calculation rules on recycled content in the Single Use Plastics Directive to ensure refineries are included, thereby supporting Europe's competitiveness and its recycled content targets.
