TOMRA Feature Articles: Stay Informed & Inspired

Why Europe's reuse leaders are flocking to Aarhus

What does a city that has cracked the reuse puzzle actually look like? Recently, 80 of Europe's leading sustainability experts traveled to Denmark to find out — and what they found promises to accelerate plans across the continent.

TOMRA and the Global Plastics Treaty

Alongside a strong coalition of businesses and NGOs, TOMRA has been active in promoting an ambitious Global Plastics Treaty with clear targets and harmonized regulation across UN countries. Our hopes were that the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee would finalize and adopt an agreement at the end of INC-5.2 in Geneva in August, but unfortunately, no agreement was reached.

First year anniversary of TOMRA Reuse pilot in Aarhus

One year in, the world’s first city-wide platform for reusable takeaway packaging in Aarhus, Denmark demonstrates that it is possible to combine convenience on the go with more circular practices. The most heavily circulated REUSEABLE cups have so far completed an impressive 33 loops of reuse.

The plastic dilemma

Knowing whether plastic packaging should be placed in the separate bin for plastic recycling or thrown into the mixed waste bin is not always easy. In fact, we throw away 50% of all discarded plastics in the mixed waste bin, which means it ends up either being incinerated or sent to landfill. Now, TOMRA will help recover this material and give it at least another life as feedstock for creating new plastic packaging.

EPR: At the core of plastic pollution control

As plastic pollution continues to soar, extended producer responsibility (EPR) is becoming an increasingly important policy tool to mitigate this crisis. Through EPR, the operational logistics and costs of managing waste are placed firmly on the producers of that waste, creating a financial incentive for them to create and manage their products and packaging in more sustainable ways.

How ambitious recycling targets can combat global plastic pollution

Today, only 9% of plastic finds its way back into the production cycle after it has been thrown away — a far cry from the target the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive has set (50% of plastic to be recycled by 2025 and 55% by 2030). In anticipation of the third round of negotiations for the UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution, where delegates from around the world will gather in Nairobi, Kenya to discuss the terms of the Treaty, TOMRA has published 10 recommendations for consideration.

UN Plastic Pollution Treaty: Driving Global Solutions

If current trends continue, the OECD predicts that the amount of global mismanaged waste could skyrocket from 79 million tonnes (22% of all waste) in 2019 to 153 million tonnes (15% of all waste) by 2060. Of that mismanaged waste, 22 million tonnes is plastic entering our environment - a number that could surge to 55 million tonnes by 2060.

How system integrity helps achieve higher packaging recycling rates

As one of the five fundamental principles in designing high-performing EPR schemes, system integrity is critical to a trusted, reliable, and effective system. Learn more about the final design principle in this series. 

Global Trends in EPR Schemes: Insights by TOMRA

EPR schemes ensure that companies take responsibility for the collection, sorting, and recycling of the packaging they place on the market, from start to finish. 

Consumer Convenience & EPR System Success by TOMRA

High-performing EPR schemes are built on a combination of five design principles, with convenience being a fundamental pillar that most directly impacts a consumer’s role in the system.

Driving resource efficiency with packaging targets

Analysis of EPR schemes shows that creating a trifecta of packaging targets drives resource efficiency. Read more about the second EPR design principle covered in this series: Performance.

Increasing Packaging Circularity with TOMRA Solutions

EPR schemes have the power to advance the circular economy, but they need to be designed properly. TOMRA has established five design principles of high-performing EPR schemes. This series will take a deep dive into each of those principles. First up: Circularity. 

Reduce, reuse, recycle: what is a circular economy for plastic?

Plastic pollution is one of the world’s most pressing environmental issues, with disposable plastic polluting the world’s oceans. Transitioning towards a circular economy will help that valuable plastic find its way out of the ocean, and back into circulation.   

What is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)?

Learn more about Extended Producer Responsibility: What is it? Why is it important, and what does it mean for manufacturers, and others in the value chain?

Only 2% of Plastic Packaging Recycled: TOMRA Insights

The demand for plastic continues to grow and, currently, only 2% of plastic packaging is kept in a closed loop. What can be done to change this? 

Unlocking the circular potential of polyesterene

Polyesterene (PS) has vast potential in terms of circularity, but one would not know that, given the negative opinions many have on this plastic material. We want to change those misconceptions and prove that this material is not only recyclable, but incredibly valuable.

What is the circular economy?

The circular economy is transforming the way we use and reuse resources, reducing waste and improving the sustainability of our planet. But what is the circular economy, and how does it work?

Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Nicolai Prytz, sustainability and strategy director for TOMRA, explores the role – and the importance – of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in driving global change.

HolyGrail: Intelligent Sorting for Circular Packaging

HolyGrail, supported by technology that TOMRA provides, aims to speed up the transition to a circular economy for plastics by using chemical tracers and digital watermarks to sort post-consumer packaging.  

Circular Economy: 5 Ways to Reduce Waste & Increase Value

The circular economy is transforming the way we use and reuse resources, reducing waste and shifting our lives in a more sustainable direction. Here are five examples of circular economies that are transforming industries and already in action across the globe, including container deposit schemes for closed-loop recycling.

How the ocean economy can fight plastic pollution