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Action recommendations | PlastLIFE Project | March 2026
Sustainable plastics value chain strengthens national resilience The circular economy for plastics has progressed in Finland as a result of cross-sector collaboration. A sustainable circular economy for plastics supports the economy, security of supply and the environment. However, further actions are still needed to achieve it.1,2
• Measures targeting the entire plastics value chain are needed to reduce
unnecessary consumption of plastic and increase recycling. Regulation and incentives should support, among other things, the transition from singleuse products to reusable alternatives.
• The recycling rate for plastic packaging remains low. Finland currently pays
the EU around 90 million euros annually in plastic own-resource fee for nonrecycled plastic packaging waste. Collection and recycling of plastic packaging waste must be increased to meet the EU’s recycling targets.
• The use of recycled plastic as a raw material in new products must be increased. Mandatory recycled content requirements and other measures that boost demand for recycled plastics should be introduced as quickly as possible.
• The recycling and plastics industries must be strengthened and kept in operation. Solutions are needed to prevent unsustainable and low-quality recycled plastic raw materials imported from outside the EU from entering the market. Domestic industry supports national security of supply.
• The environmental impacts of plastic use, such as carbon footprint, littering
PHOTO: STOCK.ADOBE.COM
and microplastics, should also be studied in Finland.
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Action recommendations | PlastLIFE Project | March 2026
Reducing unnecessary use of plastic requires further action Reducing consumption and saving natural resources is perhaps the greatest challenge of the circular economy. Achieving this requires stronger policy instruments, including incentives and regulation, extending from product design and commerce to citizens’ everyday practices. Finland’s Sustainability Panel has also proposed reducing consumption and using resources within the limits of the carrying capacity of nature.3,4 Climate impact assessments show that material production is a significant source of emissions within the plastics value chain. Reusable products should replace single-use plastic items wherever possible.5 Regulation can accelerate this transition, as demonstrated in Estonia, where event organisers are required to use reusable drinking cups even at large-scale events.6
Improving plastic recycling and increasing the use of recycled plastic The EU requires that 55% of plastic packaging is recycled by 2035. An interim target of a 50% recycling rate by 2025 was also set. Finland is still far from achieving these goals: in 2023, only 29% of plastic packaging was recycled. To recover enough packaging waste, sorting must become a natural part of everyday life. This everyday responsibility is referred to as circular economy citizenship. People need support at home, at work and in schools through clear instructions, guidance and incentives. In addition to plastic packaging, recycling systems should also be developed for other plastic waste streams, such as plastic waste from industry. Plastic waste generated in industrial processes can safely be used as raw material for new products because its composition is precisely known, making recycling controlled and reliable. Not all plastic waste is suitable for conventional mechanical recycling. Therefore, chemical recycling is also needed to maximise the recovery of waste plastics. In Finland’s northern conditions, biodegradable plastics degrade slowly or incompletely in nature. For this reason, investing in recycling may be more beneficial than focusing on biodegradability, which does not solve the littering problem.7
In 2021, recycled plastics accounted for only 3.5% of all plastic raw material production. Demand for recycled plastics has so far remained low. Mandatory recycled content requirements can increase demand, but other measures are also needed, such as explicit criteria for public procurement.
A sustainable circular economy for plastics improves security of supply Security of supply is strengthened when products manufactured in Finland can use domestic recycled plastic or alternative materials instead of fossil-based raw materials. Alternative materials for fossil-based plastics are being developed from sources such as side streams from horticulture. Although development work is still ongoing and production volumes remain small, these materials could become important, particularly from the perspective of packaging security of supply. When expanding the raw material base for plastics, the safety and quality of new materials must be ensured through chemical and product regulation. Low-cost plastics imported from outside the EU pose challenges for European recycled plastic producers, and the quality and origin of these materials cannot always be verified. Companies operating within the sustainable plastics circular economy value chain should be supported in Finland, including through opportunities for collaboration within circular economy ecosystems.
Environmental and health impacts of plastics Littering affects people’s wellbeing and the attractiveness of areas. Most litter observed in the environment is plastic, which gradually breaks down into microplastics. Finnish people are concerned about littering and the impacts of microplastics on the environment and health. Littering also creates costs for municipalities. For example, the City of Helsinki spent more than 14 million euros on cleaning parks and streets in 2025.8 Littering on beaches has been monitored regularly and has decreased in recent years. Unfortunately, beaches have still not reached a “good” environmental status regarding littering. Preventive work and research into the environmental and health impacts of plastics must continue actively. Industrial microplastic emissions should also be considered in environmental permitting processes.
Plastics are not a single material Plastics consists of many different plastic types. Plastic packaging falls under producer responsibility schemes, meaning packaging producers pay for its recycling. Different plastic packaging materials are sorted at recycling facilities, which is why consumers can sort all plastic packaging waste in the same collection bin without needing to identify the exact plastic type.
Recycled plastic refers to raw material processed from plastic waste that can be used to manufacture new products. Mandatory recycled content requirement means that products must contain a specified proportion of recycled raw material.
Action recommendations | PlastLIFE Project | March 2026
Finland is preparing a Circular Economy Act Finland is preparing a Circular Economy Act to replace the current Waste Act, and the working group’s report was completed in early 2026.9 The aim of the Circular Economy Act is to extend product lifecycles, reduce waste generation and accelerate circular economy markets. The legislation seeks to increase reuse, improve sorting, separate collection and recycling, and restrict the incineration of recyclable waste. The Ministry of the Environment is progressing in the preparation in stages: first by amending waste legislation to improve the recycling of municipal waste, especially plastic packaging. The full Circular Economy Act is intended to be implemented during the next parliamentary term.
Preparations also consider upcoming EU circular economy legislation expected later in 2026. The aim of the EU’s new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU) 2025/40 is to reduce packaging waste and increase recycling and reuse. The Regulation will apply from 12 August 2026 onwards. It bans certain singleuse plastic packaging items, requires all packaging to be recyclable by 2030, and sets targets for reducing plastic carrier bags and increasing the proportion of recycled content in packaging materials. In addition, reuse targets will be introduced for certain sectors. For example, from 2030 onwards, at least 10% of certain beverages must be made available to consumers in reusable packaging. Implementing the Regulation will require numerous amendments to national legislation.
Towards a sustainable circular economy for plastics in Finland by 2035 Reducing consumption
Utilisation of industrial rejects
Reuse and repurposing
Industry and consumers
Repair and refurbishment Sharing economy Stock
Reducing natural resource use
Bio-based Recycled
Virgin fossilCaptured based CO2
Minimising harmful impacts
CCU
© Finnish Environment Institute.
Finland has promoted the circular economy for plastics through the national Plastics Roadmap for Finland programme. Its key themes are “Reduce and refuse, recycle and replace”. The roadmap has strengthened cooperation and networking between government sectors, industries, authorities and research organisations. Advancing the circular economy for plastics has been seen as important across successive governments. To support implementation of the roadmap, the PlastLIFE project has received EU LIFE funding. Its main objective is to achieve a sustainable circular economy for plastics in Finland by 2035.
Reduce, refuse, recycle and replace Reduce littering and other harmful environmental impacts of plastics. Refuse unnecessary consumption of plastic and promote reuse. Recycle: Improve plastic recycling and the recyclability of plastic products. Replace virgin fossil-based plastics with recycled plastics or sustainably produced renewable materials.
Action recommendations | PlastLIFE Project | March 2026
Policy recommendations for decision-makers
1
Strengthening markets for sustainable products and business models
• Effective policy instruments, such as tax incentives •
and financial support, must be introduced to increase the reuse of products.
• The production and use of domestic recycled raw
materials should be supported, for example by limiting the import of low-cost materials and products from outside the EU.
• High quality of recycled raw materials must be en-
sured through EU circular economy and chemicals legislation, as well as through national monitoring and enforcement. The use of recycled raw materials should be prioritised over virgin raw materials, i.e. virgin plastic.
Pilot projects and innovation for reuse return systems, such as deposit systems, on an industrial scale are needed both in Finland and across the EU.
• Repair and maintenance service businesses should
be supported and developed so that they are economically viable for entrepreneurs and accessible for citizens to use.
• A high-level EU-funded pilot project for a sustain-
able recycled plastics ecosystem should be established in Finland, with strong networking links across the EU.
• Product design, manufacturing and imports should
focus on bringing durable and repairable products to the market.
3
• The attractiveness of short-lived consumer goods
and harmful consumption habits should be reduced through regulation and by influencing public attitudes.
2
• Ecological risk assessment of microplastics should
be further developed in Finland, while also following how microplastic emission limits are implemented in other European countries. Emission limits for microplastics in industrial emissions should be established. If current knowledge is insufficient to set limits within permitting procedures, further research must first be conducted to support this work.
Strengthening security of supply and creating stable circular economy markets for domestic raw materials
• The development and adoption of new recycling
technologies must be supported, and recycling systems should also be developed for plastic waste streams other than plastic packaging.
• Research and monitoring of the sources, transport
• Public procurement should promote the production of reusable products and products made from recycled materials.
• The use of recycled plastic as raw material in new
Reducing negative environmental impacts through knowledge and cooperation
pathways and impacts of littering should be increased. Continuous communication on the impacts of littering and encouragement to activate citizens for clean-up are also needed.
• Finland must play an active role in the EU regulatory
products must be increased. Mandatory recycled content requirements and other measures that increase demand for recycled plastics should be introduced as quickly as possible.
processes. For example, the suitability of biodegradability standards for plastics should consider cold climates and anaerobic waste treatment. Finland must also ensure the sufficient resources to contribute to advancing the global plastics treaty.
References
1 Räisänen M., ym. (2025) The state of plastics circularity in Finland 2025 2 PlastLIFE project event and workshop 9.2.2026
3 Soininen N., Linnanen L. (2025) Rakenteellinen ylikulutus. Lausunto Eduskunnan tulevaisuusvaliokunnalle. (Structural overconsumption. Statement to the Parliament of Finland’s Committee for the Future, in Finnish)
4 Uusiouutiset 16.12.2025. Kuluttamiselle katto, mainoskielto krääsälle. (Consumption limits and a ban on advertising disposable consumer goods. News article, in Finnish) 5 Salmenperä H., Kauppi S., Karppinen T.K.M., Pitkänen K. (2024) Prioritizing reuse. 6 Savolahti H., Dahlbo H., Alhola K., Salmenperä H., Kauppi S., Heikkilä W. (2025) Boosting reuse at events: How municipalities can lead the way 7 Kauppi S., Selonen S., Taipale S., Virolainen-Hynnä A. (2025) Threats and opportunities of biodegradable plastics
8 Helsingin kaupunki 23.4.2025. Puistojen ja katujen puhtaanapito maksaa Helsingille miljoonia vuodessa – Helsinki kampanjoi roskaamattomuuden puolesta (Cleaning parks and streets costs Helsinki millions of euros each year. News article, in Finnish)
9 Kiertotalouslakityöryhmä, 2026. Kiertotalouslakityöryhmän mietintö. Ympäristöministeriön julkaisuja 2026:9. (Report of the working group on Circular Economy Act, in Finnish)
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Action recommendations | PlastLIFE Project | March 2026
Sustainable plastics value chain strengthens national resilience Authors: Sari Kauppi, Hanna Salmenperä, Helena Dahlbo, Milja Räisänen Editor: Johanna Kaunisto Publisher: Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) ISBN 978-952-11-5879-7 (pdf)
LIFE21-IPE-FI-PlastLIFE. The PlastLIFE project receives funding from the EU’s LIFE program, with which the projects material have been produced. The content of the material represents only the views of the project, for which CINEA/European Commission is not responsible.