Plastic package recycling in Finland – Where do we stand, and where are we headed?

Sorting plastic often raises questions – and sometimes misconceptions. Did you know that a coffee package belongs in plastic recycling, but a hairbrush does not? While most Finns say they sort their plastic packaging, the reality is different: a significant share still ends up in mixed waste.

Current Situation – Plenty of ground to cover

Around 80% of Finnish households report that they always or often sort plastic packaging. In practice, however, only about 30% of plastic packaging actually ends up in collection. This places Finland just 21st in the EU recycling ranking. The target for 2025 is 50%, so there is much room for improvement. Poor or incorrect sorting is not just an environmental issue – it also costs money. Finland pays nearly €90 million annually in extra EU fees due to unrecycled plastic packaging.

Why does sorting matter?

A properly sorted plastic package is not waste but valuable raw material. It can be turned into new packaging, consumer goods, or even construction materials. This reduces our dependence on oil, conserves natural resources, and lowers our carbon footprint. Recycling plastic supports the circular economy, keeping materials in use as long as possible. At the same time, we avoid unnecessary incineration and the emissions it causes.

What goes into plastic collection?

The rule of thumb is simple: Is it packaging? Is it plastic? If the answer to both is yes, it belongs in plastic recycling.

Examples of acceptable items include:

• Plastic trays and containers

• Bread and wrapping bags

• Takeaway cups and boxes

• Tubes and bottles

Remember: only plastic packaging belongs in the collection. Toys, hairbrushes, and other plastic items should be taken to your municipal waste collection point. Deposit beverage containers, meanwhile, are returned to bottle return machines at local grocerie stores.

Good to know: you don’t need to wash plastic packaging. Just make sure it’s empty and odorless for a few days.

The journey of a plastic package

Once you place a plastic package in the collection bin, its path to a new life begins:

1. Collection and transport – Packaging is collected and taken to regional terminals, where it is baled for further processing.

2. Sorting and processing – The bales are opened, plastics are identified, and sorted by type.

3. Recycling – The plastic is washed, dried, and granulated into plastic pellets.

4. A new life – Recycled plastic becomes new products such as garbage bags, detergent bottles, flowerpots, and clothes hangers.

Domestic processing capacity is growing

Currently, some of the collected plastic packaging is shipped to Sweden for recycling, as Finland’s processing capacity is not sufficient. The situation, however, is changing rapidly. Sumi’s subsidiary Sumi Sorting is building a new sorting facility in Riihimäki, while partnerships with other operators are increasing capacity in Vantaa. The goal is that by the end of 2026, most plastic packaging will be processed in Finland. This will reduce transport emissions and increase the availability of domestic recycled plastic.

An easy everyday environmental action

Sorting plastic doesn’t take much time, but its impact is significant. Every properly sorted package is a step towards a circular economy, lower emissions, and cost savings. You can sort packaging in the collection bin at your building or at the nearest recycling point – locations are easy to find online. Once sorting becomes a routine, you’ll notice it’s one of the simplest environmental actions you can take every day.