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Chairman of the Board at Eco Baltia grupa Māris Simanovičs: “The new production unit is a logical and necessary step in the development of Nordic Plast thereby strengthening its position as one of the leading polymer processing companies in the Baltic States. The new production unit increases the production capacity, competitive capacity and also the export potential of Nordic Plast. Furthermore the new production unit will also ensure new work places and will contribute to reduction of environmental pollution. The next goal is to continue the successful development, to elaborate new products and to conquer new export markets by becoming the top producer in Europe.”

The latest and advanced polymer processing equipment was installed at the company in the waste management production line modernisation process. Moreover new raw material washing and extrusion lines, as well as a set of water treatment facilities have been installed. In total 25 new work places have been created as a result of the modernisation project of the production unit therefore the total number of employees reaches 65 people.

The production capacity of Nordic Plast has increased by one and a half times — from on average 320 tonnes of finished production per month up to 550 tonnes of finished production per month. So far over a year Nordic Plast processed around 5000 tonnes of raw materials, 40-50% whereof is polythene and solid plastic material collected in Latvia; it is planned to increase this volume up to 8500 tonnes.

“Today we are witnessing the fact that care for the environment can be more than simple enthusiasm, but successful entrepreneurship, creating high value added products with export capacity and new work places. Industrial traditions in Olaine have been developing throughout decades and it is a true pleasure to observe its development,” the Minister for Economics Vjačeslavs Dombrovskis points out.

The project is important also from the point of view of environmental policy since there is not only a possibility to process various types of polythene and plastic materials, which otherwise would reach landfills, but energy efficiency of the company is being increased significantly as well and impact on the environment is reduced — it is estimated that energy consumption has decreased by 30%, as well as new and efficient water treatment facilities are installed.

By expanding production and making it more efficient Nordic Plast is also working on establishing co-operation with new export partners in Sweden, Great Britain and Finland. At present the company exports to ten countries, and only a small part of its products is sold in Latvia. France, Czech Republic and Lithuania are the largest export partners of the company.

Nordic Plast has also received co-financing within the scope of the Climate Change Financial Instrument of the Environmental Investment Fund in the amount of EUR 595,114 for the implementation of the project. Apart from this Nordic Plast has also attracted financing from Nordea banka in order to implement the project.