Introducing the Balt-Plast-Free partnership: five organisations working to reduce microplastics pollution
The Balt-Plast-Free project brings together five organisations from Finland and Estonia to address microplastics pollution from wastewater treatment plants. By combining regional development expertise, scientific research and real-world wastewater operations, the partnership is working to improve how microplastics are monitored, understood and reduced before they reach the Baltic Sea.
The partners represent different but complementary roles across the water sector, ensuring that project results are scientifically robust, practically applicable and relevant for future policy and operational needs.
Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltd. – coordinating cross-border cooperation (Finland)
MikseiMikkeli is the lead partner of Balt-Plast-Free. Based in South Savo, Miksei is a regional development organisation with strong experience in water-related innovation, circular economy and international cooperation.
In the project, Miksei is responsible for overall coordination and for connecting the different strands of work across Finland and Estonia. Through close links with the Blue Economy Mikkeli (BEM) Centre of Excellence, Miksei brings together research, pilot environments and stakeholder engagement. The organisation also leads project communication and awareness-raising, helping to translate technical work into messages that are accessible to professionals and the wider public.
LUT University – advanced wastewater treatment expertise (Finland)
LUT contributes long-standing expertise in wastewater treatment processes and the removal of harmful substances, including microplastics. Through its Department of Separation Science, LUT has extensive experience working with municipal wastewater treatment plants and piloting new treatment technologies.
Within Balt-Plast-Free, LUT plays a key role in understanding how different treatment steps affect microplastics removal and in exploring solutions that can prevent microplastics from entering treatment processes in the first place. Together with Estonian partners, LUT also contributes to the development of harmonised methods that support reliable comparison of results across borders.
National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics (KBFI) – environmental toxicology and coordination in Estonia
KBFI brings strong expertise in environmental toxicology, nano- and microplastics research and wastewater-related sampling and analysis. Its Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology is a national competence centre in Estonia for studying microplastics, their additives and their environmental impacts.
KBFI acts as the main coordinator for Balt-Plast-Free activities in Estonia. The institute plays a central role in wastewater and sludge sampling, sample preparation and analysis, and in translating scientific knowledge into practical guidance for wastewater treatment professionals.
Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) – monitoring and analytical methods (Estonia)
TalTech is Estonia’s leading technical university and contributes extensive experience in environmental monitoring and microplastics analysis. TalTech has long been involved in national and international projects related to aquatic pollution and marine litter.
In Balt-Plast-Free, TalTech supports detailed microplastics analysis and method development, working closely with KBFI and LUT University. Its expertise strengthens the scientific reliability of the project and supports the development of analytical approaches that can be used consistently by researchers and authorities in the future.
AS Emajõe Waterworks Ltd. – bringing solutions into practice (Estonia)
EVV represents the operational wastewater utility perspective within the partnership. As the largest regional water company in Estonia by service area, EVV operates wastewater treatment plants across a wide range of settlements.
EVV provides real-scale operational environments for the project, hosting pilot activities and supporting harmonised sampling through its mobile laboratory vehicle. Its involvement ensures that project solutions are tested under everyday operating conditions and are relevant for wastewater utilities beyond the project partners.
A partnership built on complementary roles
Together, the Balt-Plast-Free partners form a complete chain from research and method development to piloting and practical implementation. This combination allows the project to address microplastics pollution in a way that supports both environmental protection and the everyday realities of wastewater treatment.
By working across borders, the partnership aims to contribute to cleaner waters, reduced microplastics emissions and stronger preparedness for future requirements in the Baltic Sea region.
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