SvenskaTMR is one of the first seven organizations to sign the PackLOOP Plastlöftet, an initiative to create closed loops for commercial plastic packaging.
TMR is one of the first seven organizations to sign the PackLOOP Plastlöftet pledge, part of the national Plastlöftet initiative launched by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and VINNOVA. The initiative is linked to the PackLOOP research project, which is led by IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute.
Plastic is a great material, but we’re using it in an unsustainable way. Too much new fossil-based plastic is constantly being added to the market, and far too much plastic packaging waste from businesses is being incinerated instead of being recycled. PackLOOP wants to change that.
The project brings together stakeholders across the entire plastics value chain, from manufacturers and users to recyclers. The goal is to make closed-loop systems for commercial plastic packaging a standard practice, rather than isolated pilot projects.
The obstacles are well known. Previous initiatives have been too small to make a difference, the logistics of collection are too costly, and it’s difficult to change how end users sort their waste. PackLOOP tackles all three.
Work is underway on two fronts simultaneously: developing a shared vision with clear goals for the industry and designing a shared system that makes it easy and cost-effective to collect sorted plastic packaging waste directly from businesses.
We are participating as representatives of the producers. A circular plastics system can only work if it is based on reality, not just on the drawing board. That’s where we contribute what we do best: our experience of what can actually be implemented and our knowledge of what producers need to be able to fulfill their responsibilities in a reasonable and sustainable way. As the industry’s joint solutions take shape, we ensure that this perspective is included from the very beginning.
By signing the Plastlöftet pledge, we make three commitments:
- We are committed to the sustainable use of plastics.
- We engage in dialogue throughout the value chain to identify and develop solutions.
- We set our own measurable goals and track our progress over time.
Other organizations that have signed so far include Accon, Coor, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Kullaplast, Nexam Chemical, and REMONDIS Sweden.
Would you like to follow the project or participate in PackLOOP’s open dialogue network? It is open to companies, organizations, regions, and municipalities. Learn more on the IVL website