EDITOUR PETplanet Insider Vol. 23 No. 10/22 www.petpla.net 31 tax, a ban on single-use plastics and an EPR system for textiles, we are currently working mostly on projects relating to textile recycling, but also on the recovery of PET flakes because of the high demand for the separation of rPET and bottle cap flakes. We assume that, because of EU legislation, the trend towards a circular economy and increasing trademark holder engagement with sustainability issues, our recycling activities will increase in the coming years.” Even if precise figures regarding overall growth and specifically the growth of PET sorting are not currently given, we’re told that with Tomra’s technologies Autosort Flake and Innosort, PET flake sorting will demonstrate continual growth. Autosort is the bestseller here, while X-Tract takes this lead in metal cleaning. Incidentally, the new generation of X-Tract with enhanced functionality had just been unveiled. “Basically, what we’re seeing,” says Mrs Jansana, “is a clear need in the industry for high-quality recycling end products, larger and more precisely working systems with high material throughput, and overall more lines per facility. The larger PET providers are expanding and upgrading their systems for higher capacities and are relying more heavily on process automation, the same with PET flake sorting.” There are also trends towards the recovery and processing of PET trays, coloured PET and above all, the PET waste generated inhouse in the manufacturing process. The issue of tethered caps will also create a need for in-house sorting facilities, as significantly more bottles will now be returned with caps. Mrs Jansana explained that in the worst days of the pandemic, Tomra’s activities were maintained in accordance with the situation, and sales and service were carried on in person and also online, which worked well. She summarises the future of the Spanish branch as follows: “We are planning to bring new products and applications onto the market and to further develop existing products. There is a particular focus on plastics and materials like metals, paper, textiles and wood. Furthermore, we are also continuing to work on digital solutions, such as our cloud-based data platform Tomra Insight, to optimise sorting processes.” www.tomra.com Tour Sponsors: Close-up of Tomra’s Autosort Flake
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTY0MjI=