Frequently asked questions on Neste RE
Here you can find answers to common questions about plastics emission reductions, feedstocks and compatibility
What is Neste RE™ and how does it replace fossil fuels in plastic production?
Neste RE™ is a raw material used in the production of polymers. It is made from bio-based renewable raw materials, such as waste and residues like used cooking oil, or recycled materials derived from challenging waste plastic streams.
Both renewable and recycled Neste RE can be used as a drop-in alternative to virgin fossil and fossil raw materials for plastics.
Technically, Neste RE is pure hydrocarbons and can replace fossil hydrocarbons such as naphtha without changes in the polymers and chemicals manufacturing infrastructure or process.
How is Neste RE integrated into the petrochemical industry's existing manufacturing infrastructure?
It is used by the petrochemical industry as a feedstock for steam crackers. It can be used neat or blended at any ratio with fossil raw materials. It can be used without changes in the polymers and chemicals manufacturing infrastructure or process.
What raw materials are used to manufacture Neste RE™?
Renewable Neste RE is made with bio-based materials such as waste and residue oils and fats.
Neste uses a wide variety of raw materials to produce renewable products. Waste and residues account for approximately 90% of our annual renewable raw material inputs globally. We continue to work towards increasing the availability of raw materials, while also developing technologies to diversify our current portfolio with new scalable raw materials, including novel vegetable oils produced with regenerative agricultural practices.
Recycled Neste RE is made from chemically recycled liquefied waste plastic.
Where do you produce Neste RE?
At refineries in Porvoo, Rotterdam and Singapore.
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.
Neste RE™ made from renewable raw materials delivers over 85%** GHG emission reduction when comparing it to its equivalent fossil-based product.
When made from recycled raw materials, Neste RE™ reduces virgin fossil resource consumption by over 70%*** (fossil abiotic depletion).
*2023 UNEP report Turning off the Tap
**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 earbuds, TVs, clear cups, diapers, pacifiers and strollers, food packaging and construction materials such as pipes for drinking water systems. Read about our customer cases in our News and Insights:
Read customer cases