3.5.1 Plastec Finland Oy

3.5.1 Plastec Finland Oy

Plastec Finland is a plastic company located in the municipality of Vimpeli in South Ostrobothnia, Finland. It has produced various injection moulded plastic products for over 30 years. At first, products were manufactured of plastic only, but in recent years the company has begun to manufacture plastic-wood based on fiber composite products. The plastic materials are mixed with waste material from the paper industry. The circulated waste material can be up to 40-50 % of the raw material used. 

The manufacture of wood and plastic combining composite products is different from the manufacture of plastic products. Composite is a challenging material. It behaves differently in manufacture than plastic. The same methods and moulds do not work, and new innovations and adjustments for the process are needed. The problems were solved by experimenting and testing with a number of different methods.

The company manufactures furniture frames from composites on an industrial scale for furniture manufacturers. Composite chairs are produces as well. The testing result has been successful and has led to scaling the industrial production.

The paper industry’s waste material can replace part of the plastic in plastic products. The use of oil-based materials can be reduced and shifted to using circulated low-carbon materials. However, the production require method development for the plactic injection moulding process.

After the development process, the results are good and more sustainable plastic products can be produced on commercial basis.

By the good will and know-how a more sustainable production can be created by using circulated raw-materials to replace less environmentally friendly raw-materials47.