TOMRA leads global effort in circular economy: Takes on the role as Business Champion of the Global Circularity Protocol

[Asker, 16th of September 2024] –TOMRA, a global market leader in circular economy technology and solutions, has taken on the role of Business Champion for the Global Circularity Protocol for Business (GCP), the landmark framework developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the One Planet Network (OPN) to enable accountability and address key gaps in scaling global circularity. With the guidance and engagement of industry circularity leaders like TOMRA, the GCP will become a universal standard for businesses to measure, enhance, and report on their product and material circularity, taking a firm stand against greenwashing.

As the leading authority in resource and waste collection, recycling, reuse and sorting solutions globally, TOMRA is well-poised to share experience with business leaders on how to effectively navigate the challenges of implementing global circularity and provide step-by-step guides that will help business comply to the protocol, leading the way in WBCSD’s Circular Products and Materials Pathway. Tove Andersen, President and CEO of TOMRA emphasised the urgency of this initiative:

"Currently, only 7% of the world’s resources are circular, a number far below what is needed to reach the targets set in the Paris agreement. Many businesses want to contribute, but a lack of standardization in reporting on circularity efforts opens for greenwashing, whether intentional or not. This has muddied the waters and made it difficult to assess companies’ actual contributions. By advocating for science-based targets, we aim to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.”

“We’re thrilled to see TOMRA’s leadership and commitment in advancing the Global Circularity Protocol for Business," said Filipe Camaño Garcia, Manager and Project Lead at WBCSD. "As a key member of our Business Advisory Committee, TOMRA brings invaluable expertise in resource efficiency and circular solutions. Their involvement as a Business Champion is critical in driving forward this universal framework."

A Unified Standard for Circularity

The GCP will provide businesses with a standardised framework for setting goals, tracking performance, and publicly reporting their circularity efforts, enabling accountability across organizations and borders. The protocol also aims at driving and guiding policy, and offers transparent, science-based guidelines to benchmark progress, identify areas for improvement, and align with global sustainability goals.

“The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, pioneered by WBCSD in the 1990s, set the standard for managing carbon emissions. Today, the Global Circularity Protocol will become the next guiding star for improving business sustainability. – aiming to become the definitive framework for circularity by 2025”, explained Quentin Drewell, Director, Products & Materials at WBCSD.

TOMRA's deep expertise in sorting technology and resource efficiency positions the company as a leader in the circular economy. Tove Andersen reiterated TOMRA's commitment to the protocol:

"Collaborating with WBCSD on the Global Circularity Protocol is completely aligned with our mission commitment to sustainability. By working together, we can set bold targets and drive the systemic changes needed to make circularity the global standard."

About TOMRA:

TOMRA is a global leader in the resource revolution, specialising in innovative sorting technology to manage the world’s waste. With a commitment to sustainability and circularity, TOMRA captures billions of containers annually for recycling and is dedicated to optimizing resource efficiency across various industries.