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We have compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions about Neste RE™.
What is Neste RE?
Neste RETM is a raw material used in the production of polymers. Made from renewable and recycled materials, Neste RE is a more sustainable solution over fossil raw materials for plastics. Technically, Neste RE is pure hydrocarbons and can replace fossil hydrocarbons such as naphtha in plastics value chains.
How is Neste RE used?
Neste RE is used as a feedstock for steam crackers. It can be used as a 1:1 replacement of fossil feedstock to produce exactly the same products. Neste RE can be used in a blend with fossil feedstock as well.
What is Neste RE made of?
Neste RE can be produced via two routes: renewable Neste RE is made with bio-based materials such as waste and residue oils and fats. Recycled Neste RE is made from chemically recycled plastic waste. Both routes lead to the same product: a high-quality raw material for the production of plastics.
How is Neste RE produced?
Neste RETM can be produced utilizing renewable or recycled raw materials.
Using renewable raw materials, we can offer two ways to produce Neste RE:
A segregated process via our renewable products refineries utilizing our proprietary NEXBTL technology.
Co-processing of bio-based materials in our oil refinery and applying mass balancing.
Recycled Neste RE is made from recycled raw materials. For this purpose, we are processing liquefied plastic waste or liquefied discarded rubber tires in our crude oil refinery in Porvoo.
Both routes lead to the same product: a high-quality raw material for the production of plastics.
What’s your production capacity for Neste RE?
Neste has a total anual production capacity for renewable products of some 5.5 million tons. This will increase to 6.8 million tonnes by the end of 2026. This capacity encompasses all of Neste’s renewable products, such as: Neste MY Renewable DieselTM, Neste MY Sustainable Aviation FuelTM and Neste RE.
When it comes to the capacities for chemical recycling, Neste has so far processed more than 6,000 tons of liquefied waste plastic into recycled Neste RE. Neste is currently scaling up the capacities in the course of a project at its refinery in Porvoo (project “PULSE”): The targeted pretreatment and upgrading capacity of project PULSE is 400,000 tons per year. This capacity will be reached gradually by 2028. In June 2023, Neste made a final investment decision to commence construction of upgrading facilities in Porvoo in the course of project PULSE. With the investment of 111 million euros, Neste will build the capacity to upgrade 150,000 tons of liquefied waste plastic per year. The new facility is planned to be finalized in the first half of 2025.
Where do you produce Neste RE?
Neste operated renewable (NEXBTL) refineries in Rotterdam, Porvoo and Singapore. Co-processing of renewable raw materials takes place at our crude oil refinery in Porvoo. Recycled Neste RE is produced at our crude oil refinery in Porvoo as well.
What’s the benefit of using Neste RE?
Neste RE can be used to replace fossil raw materials for plastics manufacturing. It thereby reduces our dependence on fossil resources.
Our life cycle assessment (LCA) shows a possible greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction of more than 85% when renewable Neste RE feedstock replaces fossil feedstock*.
For recycled Neste RE, an LCA shows a reduction of more than 35%** of GHG emissions when chemical recycling replaces the use of fossil resources and the incineration of plastic waste.
*Life Cycle Assessment on Environmental Impacts of Neste Renewable Polymers and Chemicals (30 June 2021)
**Life Cycle Assessment on Environmental Impacts of Chemical recycling of waste plastic - Case Neste (October 2022)
Are there any examples or case studies on the usage of Neste RE?
Neste RE is already used to produce various plastic applications across industries. Examples include clear cups, diapers, pacifiers and strollers, food packaging and construction materials such as pipes for drinking water systems. Read more here.