Research and development

We want to provide consumers with the opportunity to choose more environmentally friendly products, and that is why we make considerable investments in research to find new methods and raw material solutions. Orthex is involved in two significant research projects, the goals of which are to increase the use of recycled and renewable plastics. In line with Orthex’s sustainability strategy, both projects support our 2030 carbon neutrality target and the target to increase the use of sustainable raw materials. 

Orthex launched a significant research project for the development of future recycled plastic products in September 2022. The project will be carried out in cooperation with partners and will last until the end of 2024. The first results of the product development and tests are encouraging and indicate that recycled plastic is, at least in principle, suitable for food contact. More information on the results of the research project is available here.

The goals of the project are to build an ecosystem aimed at increasing the use of recycled plastic and to generate new information about the use of recycled plastic in different applications, especially in products suitable for food contact. The project is part of the extensive and pioneering Borealis SPIRIT (Sustainable Plastics Industry Transformation) program supported by Business Finland, which aims to transform the plastics industry towards a more sustainable future. More information on the SPIRIT programme is available on SPIRIT website.

Since January 2023, Orthex also participates in a large cooperation project of seven years to promote the circular economy of plastics. The PlastLIFE SIP-EU project piloted by the Ministry of the Environment and the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) is part of the EU’s LIFE program. As part of the PlastLIFE SIP-EU project, the goal of Orthex’s work package is to find new potential renewable plastic raw materials, test raw materials in production and as finished products, and then bring products from renewable plastic to the market.

For more information please visit PlastLIFE website. 

During 2023, Orthex has mapped potential new raw material suppliers and tested new plastic raw materials. As one example of the results of this work, Orthex launched to the market the new SmartStoreTM Bedroller product, which is manufactured using a new recycled plastic raw material.