The Plastic Waste Challenge

“The responsibility to combat climate change is on all of us. After all, it is up to us what kind of world we leave for our children.”

These sentiments from Henley graduate, Risto Heikkala, are no doubt shared by many of us as we face the looming prospect of a future in crisis. As Head of Product Management and Pricing of Renewable Polymers and Chemicals at Neste, Risto is working to create solutions for combatting climate change and accelerating a shift to a circular economy, offering hope for the future. Risto, who lives in Finland, studied a part-time Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) at Henley Business School and graduated in 2019.

Having worked for Neste since 2007, Risto recently moved to the newly-established Renewable Polymers and Chemicals unit. He now works on providing solutions for the polymers and chemicals industry based on renewable or recycled raw materials, to reduce our dependence on fossil resources.

A NEW LIFE FOR PLASTIC WASTE

Risto explains how Neste has turned its attention to renewable feedstock – a natural resource that can replenish itself in a limited time – for polymer production, as well as accelerating the development of chemical recycling to contribute to solving the plastic waste pollution challenge – something which he believes is “one of the greatest challenges of our time”.

He said: “Most people are using polymers every day, because their superior properties allow for a wide range of applications, ranging from cars, medical appliances, beauty and home care, to electronics and packaging.

“However, there is a dark side to conventionally produced polymers – when using fossil resources like crude oil to produce polymers, we are adding additional carbon to the carbon cycle. This carbon eventually ends up as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere at the end of a polymer product’s life.”