PR90472

OSLO, Norway and MULHEIM-KÃRLICH, Germany, July 6, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

Live webcast on July 7th, 2021: TOMRA study - Holistic resource systems could

save 2.76 billion tonnes of CO2

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of 2016 have been

concretised by the European Commission: The new EU climate law increases the

emission reduction target from 40% to at least 55% by 2030 to meet the

expectations of the November World Climate Summit in Glasgow. As an innovation

leader, TOMRA aims to help achieve the goals and take waste management to

another level. A new study commissioned by TOMRA and conducted by EUNOMIA

demonstrates the potential for an optimized waste management system as regards

to climate change. Overall, a reduction of 2.76 billion tonnes of CO2/year is

possible.

This reduction can be achieved using Holistic Resource Systems - the optimized

combination of key waste management practices for collection, sorting and

recycling to facilitate the transition toward a circular economy, which is

preventing resource depletion, reducing littering and contributing to a carbon

neutral world.

Holistic resource systems are an ideal combination of political framework

regulations, such as extended producer responsibility, deposit return schemes,

and technical processes for waste handling. London-based consultancy for

sustainability Eunomia, has examined various models to identify the most

efficient, cost-effective scenario for a holistic system.

The outcome is clear:

-Deposit return systems for PET bottles and metal beverage containers, which

deliver a return rate of over 90%, should play a central role in such a system.

-As regard to remaining household waste, only biowaste, paper, textiles, and

electrical and electronic equipment should be collected separately.

-The rest should remain in a mixed waste stream which can be most efficiently

separated into reusable materials for further recycling.

This will enable regionally customized holistic models to cut global CO2

emissions by up to 5% - the equivalent of grounding all commercial flights

globally and taking 65% of cars off the road.

"Now is the time for real action to ensure societies stop wasting resources

with all the related negative consequences. In many places, the pandemic helped

to meet Paris Climate Agreement goals," underlines Volker Rehrmann, Executive

Vice President and Head of TOMRA Recycling/Mining & Circular Economy Division.

"But even maintaining this level will require determined and consistent

implementation, including holistic systems, to close the loops."

The three elements of holistic waste management are:

-Deposit return schemes (DRS) for PET and metal beverage containers deliver a

return rate of more than 90%. They maximize captures of high quality, high

carbon-intensity material while reducing litter (->see graphic).

-Separate collections of biowaste, paper, textiles and electrical and

electronic equipment (WEEE) enable these materials to be recycled for the

greatest carbon benefit. Although separate collections are an intrinsic part of

holistic resources, the capture rates in even best practices are not good

enough. Further sorting of the residual waste fraction will always be

necessary.

-Mixed waste sorting (MWS) generates additional collection and recycling rates

above and beyond what the other elements can deliver. The incineration or

landfilling of plastics and other high carbon materials generate unnecessary

greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. MWS reduces those emissions and returns more

materials to the system for incorporation into new products. MWS needs to be

considered an investment priority now, as it is a required backstop to ensure

waste management systems capture as many resources as possible for recycling

(->see image).

To further discuss these concepts and the recently released white paper

(https://solutions.tomra.com/hrs-whitepaper-download ) , TOMRA will host a live

webcast "Holistic Resource Systems" with Dr. Volker Rehrmann, EVP, TOMRA and

guest Joe Papineschi, Chairperson, Eunomia on July 7, 2021 10:30 - 11:30 CET:

https://solutions.tomra.com/ce-webcast-registration.

- Picture are available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com) -

Media Contacts Circular Economy:

Mithu Mohren

Phone: +49 2630 9150 450                                                    

Email: Mithu.Mohren@tomra.com                                        

Media contacts TOMRA Recycling

Michele Wiemer, Communications Coordinator

T: +49 2630 9150 453

E: Michele.Wiemer@tomra.com

About TOMRA Circular Economy

TOMRA was founded on an innovation in 1972 that began with the design,

manufacturing and sale of reverse vending machines (RVMs) for automated

collection of used beverage containers. Today TOMRA provides technology-led

solutions that enable the circular economy with advanced collection and sorting

systems that optimize resource recovery and minimize waste in the food,

recycling and mining industries and is committed to building a more sustainable

future.

TOMRA has ~100,000 installations in over 80 markets worldwide and had total

revenues of ~9.9 billion NOK in 2020. The Group employs ~4,300 globally and is

publicly listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: TOM).

For further information about TOMRA, please see www.tomra.com

SOURCE: TOMRA