TOMRA’s response to Norway’s Expert Group Report on the circular economy
TOMRA submitted its response to the Norwegian government’s hearing on the expert group report “Ikke rett fram” (“Not a Straight Path”).
The report provides an in-depth review of financial instruments, bans, taxes, and targets that could help accelerate the transition to a more circular economy in Norway.
Why the report matters
The expert group highlights the urgent need for stronger measures to ensure that more of the resources we consume are kept in circulation. Circular economy is seen as critical both for reaching climate goals and for strengthening Norway’s competitiveness and resilience. Harmonizing Norwegian policies with EU legislation is a central theme, as this will create viable markets for secondary raw materials and unlock new opportunities for growth.
TOMRA’s key messages
In its response, TOMRA welcomed the report but also pointed to areas where more emphasis is needed:
- Infrastructure gap: Norway is not on track to meet EU recycling targets for plastic packaging in 2025 and 2030. Expanding industrial sorting capacity is essential to close this gap.
- Holistic systems: No single solution is enough. A circular economy requires a combination of source separation, large-scale central sorting, and strong regulatory frameworks.
- CCS and circularity: Carbon capture and storage (CCS) can help reduce emissions but is not circular. Its impact is greatest when combined with extensive sorting of recyclable materials.
- Industrial opportunity: Circular economy should be framed not only as an environmental obligation, but as an industrial strategy that can create green jobs, build trust among citizens, and strengthen Norway’s export potential.
Three pillars of holistic resource systems
TOMRA highlighted the importance of developing circular solutions based on three mutually reinforcing elements:
- Source separation and collection – deposit return systems, reuse systems where appropriate, and separate collection of biowaste.
- Industrial central sorting – large-scale facilities to recover materials from residual waste, combined with fine sorting of plastics and metals.
- Regulation and incentives – strong producer responsibility (EPR), economic tools such as eco-modulation, and binding targets to ensure circular solutions are economically viable.