At last week’s Greener Manufacturing Conference, Nordic energy company Fortum Recycling & Waste, a leading company in circular solutions and waste management, presented a material it claims is the world’s first biodegradable plastic born entirely from CO₂. Called Inga, it is a PHA with mechanical properties that are tunable according to need, recyclable and biodegradable in all tested environments: marine, freshwater, soil, home composting, landfill, anaerobic digestion and industrial composting
“It is time to rethink plastic production and move away from fossil feedstock. There is an ever-increasing need for high-quality sustainable plastics that can be used everywhere and that meet the set requirements, whether it be hygiene, colour, haptic or barrier properties,” said Tony Rehn, head of the Inga development team at Fortum Recycling & Waste
Inga answers all these requirements and, moreover, produces no microplastics, he added. “In terms of quality, Inga has the same properties as virgin plastics.”
Fortum announced in October 2024 that it had successfully produced the first sample of Inga - ‘a major milestone’ - and that it was now looking for partners on the road to commercialisation.
“Our goal is to have the first products made of Inga plastics on the market within this decade,” said Rehn.
Inga plastic meets the needs and requirements of various applications. Its inherent rigidity and durability make it suitable for electronic appliances, toys and cosmetics packaging, while its excellent barrier properties, including low water and oxygen transmission rates and high grease resistance, make it a safe and sustainable solution for food packaging.
“Inga means nothing or none in Swedish. The name refers to the fact that nothing new needs to be used to make the plastic. Products made of Inga will be aimed at environmentally conscious forerunners who want to make an impact but are not willing to compromise on the quality or aesthetics of the products they use,” Rehn explained.
Global demand for plastics is expected to grow threefold by 2050, yet plastics recycling is not keeping pace. New solutions are needed if a more sustainable plastic production is to be achieved.
“We want to promote the circulation of materials comprehensively. We believe that Inga will break the ground for a whole new category of responsible plastics, though mechanical recycling of plastics and bio-based solutions are still needed," said Rehn.
Fortum Recycling & Waste has been producing Circo plastic recyclate from post-consumer plastic waste since 2016. With the addition of CO₂-based Inga plastic to its product portfolio, it is taking another step towards providing those solutions.