Research and development

We invest in research to find new methods and raw material solutions. The goals of the research projects are to increase the use of recycled and renewable plastics, and to promote circular economy. In line with Orthex’s sustainability strategy, the projects support our emission reduction target. 

Food-safe recycled plastic

Together with other partners in the Borealis SPIRIT program, Orthex investigated whether recycled plastic can be used in products suitable for food contact, expanding possibilities to use recycled materials. The project came to its end by the end of 2025.

The goals of the project were 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 results of the product development and tests were encouraging and indicated that recycled plastic is, at least in principle, suitable for food contact. However, starting profitable industrial scale production would, among others, require further development of sorting technology and amendments to regulations governing the use of recycled plastic. 

Reusify project

Orthex is a participant in the Reusify project that started in 2024. The project aims to reduce single-use packaging by developing reusable packaging systems. The project includes several different stakeholders, as cooperation across the entire value chain is a prerequisite for a circular economy.

The initiative is expected to contribute significantly to the circular economy by reducing the use of fossil-based packaging materials and addressing packaging waste challenges. Orthex goal in this project is to offer consumers reusable take away containers instead of single-use plastic ones in grocery stores, hotels, cafes and restaurants. More information on the Reusify project is available here.

Both of the above-mentioned projects are 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 program is available on SPIRIT website.

PlastLIFE SIP-EU

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. 

For more information please visit PlastLIFE website. 

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. Examples of novelties launched by Orthex as results of this work are the SmartStore Bedroller and SmartStore Stack-it sorting solution, which are manufactured using new recycled plastic raw materials.