Technological watch
Norway summit pledges collection of 40% of world plastic packaging
International institutions and governments have announced a commitment to enable 40% of plastic packaging produced globally each year to be collected for recycling by 2030.
The announcement was made during the two-day Our Ocean conference held in Oslo by Stefan Ranstrand, president and CEO of Tomra, a Norwegian company specialised in reverse vending machines and sensor-based sorting systems for the recycling, food and mining industries.
In a statement 24 Oct, Tomra said that only 14% of global plastic packaging waste is currently collected for recycling and only 2% of the collected waste is recycled in a ‘closed loop’ system.
“A circular economy for plastic is achievable, and there is every reason to be optimistic about the future, but it requires investment from industry, government and consumers,” said Ranstrand announcing the targets.
With over 45 years of experience in collection and recycling plastic packaging, Tomra said it would be “leading the industry” but launching the ambitious targets.
“To solve the crisis in our oceans, we must focus on how plastic is produced and handled on land. There is clear evidence that recycling infrastructure such as container deposit schemes drive huge improvements in recycling rates, consumer behaviour and reducing pollution,” Ranstrand added.
By 2025, Tomra estimates its solutions will sort more than eight million tonnes of plastic per year from waste streams at a global level. The company also estimates it will upgrade two million tonnes of plastic to ‘virgin quality’ materials, by 2025.
Tomra’s reverse vending machines already collect 40 billion used beverage containers every year.
The announcement was made during the two-day Our Ocean conference held in Oslo by Stefan Ranstrand, president and CEO of Tomra, a Norwegian company specialised in reverse vending machines and sensor-based sorting systems for the recycling, food and mining industries.
In a statement 24 Oct, Tomra said that only 14% of global plastic packaging waste is currently collected for recycling and only 2% of the collected waste is recycled in a ‘closed loop’ system.
“A circular economy for plastic is achievable, and there is every reason to be optimistic about the future, but it requires investment from industry, government and consumers,” said Ranstrand announcing the targets.
With over 45 years of experience in collection and recycling plastic packaging, Tomra said it would be “leading the industry” but launching the ambitious targets.
“To solve the crisis in our oceans, we must focus on how plastic is produced and handled on land. There is clear evidence that recycling infrastructure such as container deposit schemes drive huge improvements in recycling rates, consumer behaviour and reducing pollution,” Ranstrand added.
By 2025, Tomra estimates its solutions will sort more than eight million tonnes of plastic per year from waste streams at a global level. The company also estimates it will upgrade two million tonnes of plastic to ‘virgin quality’ materials, by 2025.
Tomra’s reverse vending machines already collect 40 billion used beverage containers every year.
This project has been co-funded with the support of the LIFE financial instrument of the European Union [LIFE17 ENV/ES/000438] Life programme
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