TOMRA announces commitment to reducing plastic in oceans

TOMRA has announced a commitment to enable 40% of plastic packaging produced globally each year to be collected for recycling by 2030.

Currently, only 14% of plastic packaging is captured for recycling, and only 2% of this is recycled in a closed loop, meaning it can be reused again for the same purpose without being downgraded to lower quality plastic.

Norway-headquartered TOMRA, which is a leader in reverse vending machines and sensor-based sorting systems for the recycling, food and mining industries, made the announcement at Our Ocean in Oslo Oct. 23-24.

“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 TOMRA CEO Stefan Ranstrand. “TOMRA has been enabling this change through our technology and expertise for more than 45 years — we challenge others to join us and act now.”

TOMRA works with many global brands, plastic producers, converters and recyclers, enabling organizations to improve sustainability and reduce environmental impact through TOMRA’s solutions and knowledge.

By 2025, TOMRA estimates its solutions will sort more than eight million tons of plastic per year from waste streams at a global level. The company also estimates it will upgrade two million tons of plastic to the quality of virgin material. Its reverse vending machines already collect 40 billion used beverage containers every year.

High-profile partnerships that TOMRA has recently entered into include the new global Alliance to End Plastic Waste, which has pledged 13.67 billion Norwegian Krones ($1.48 billion) toward solutions to eliminate plastic waste.

The company is also sponsoring and advising an all-female, round-the-world scientific sailing voyage called eXXpedition, which set sail in October with the aim of raising awareness about marine litter.

​For more information, visit www.tomra.com.