How the Plastics Value Chain Can Reduce Plastic Waste

The existential threat to oceans and marine life is a good enough reason to cut plastics waste, profitable new business opportunities are another, the company Tomra Sorting Recycling says.

In June, the Norwegian-based company has published a new eBook, which shares transformational ideas for reducing plastic waste throughout the plastics value chain. The free-to-download publication (www.tomra.com/en/pvc-ebook) spotlights how wider adoption of a circular economy is not only vital for our environment, but can also bring new business opportunities.

Tomra’s latest digital book takes the realistic view that plastic has become irreplaceable in our everyday lives because of its many advantages, but action is needed urgently to prevent an exacerbation of the threat plastic waste is already posing to our oceans and marine life, the provider of instrumentation for recycling solutions emphasized. “What we do with the plastic after use and how the plastics re-enter the circular economy remains the crux of the matter. The recovery and reprocessing of plastic depend on the plastics value chain and a shared vision for success without compromising the environment.”

“By implementing effective measures in the plastics value chain, we can ensure the long-term health of our economies, communities and environment,” the company that is part of the initiative “Alliance to End Plastic Waste” is convinced. In this regard, its eBook flags-up the necessary actions by all key industry stakeholders: chemical and plastics manufacturers, consumer goods companies, retailers, consumers, waste management companies, recycling facilities, and legislators.

Beyond the environmental benefits of recycling waste, the publication observes how positive economic shifts can also be expected. “Economies built on use-once-and-discard are quickly embracing new business opportunities given the advanced sorting technologies that purify and deliver high-quality recyclates,” Tomra stated. A recent McKinsey report had estimated plastics reuse and recycling could generate profit-pool growth of as much as 60 billion US-Dollar for the petrochemicals and plastics sector.

(GR 32019, Page 19, Photo: Tomra Sorting GmbH)