TOMRA Recycling welcomes NEXTLOOPP for hands-on trials of advanced PP sorting
Led by Nextek Ltd., NEXTLOOPP is a global initiative committed to producing food-grade recycled polypropylene (rPP) from post-consumer packaging. The consortium unites players across the plastics value chain to develop scalable, safe, and circular recycling solutions that meet food-contact standards in the EU, UK, and US.
TOMRA has been an active member of NEXTLOOPP since 2021, contributing its expertise and technology to help achieve full circularity for plastics. During the visit, TOMRA offered participants a close-up look at what today’s sorting systems can already achieve—and how packaging design can further support material recovery and recyclability.
Live testing and technology demonstration
At the TOMRA Test Center, participants observed several live trials showcasing the capabilities of state-of-the-art sorting systems. Using TOMRA’s sorting allrounder AUTOSORT™, PP bales were successfully separated into white and natural fractions. The real highlight, however, was the demonstration of GAINnext™, TOMRA’s award-winning deep learning solution.
GAINnext™ impressed visitors with its ability to distinguish food-grade vs. non-food-grade PP, solving one of the most complex challenges in plastic recycling. Originally launched in 2019 as the first deep learning solution for material sorting, GAINnext™ utilizes neural networks and object recognition to classify materials, enabling sorting by shape, size, dimensions, and other visual characteristics. When combined with traditional sorting systems—which sort by material type and color—it achieves the highest sorting granularity currently available.
Ralph Uepping, TOMRA Recycling’s SVP & Head of Technology, stated: “Whilst we continue to believe that NIR and VIS systems will remain the core of every sorting plant because of their stable high performance and minimal retraining necessity, we see huge potential in our deep learning solution GAINnext™. It unlocks ever more, new and demanding applications. By combining the reliability of traditional systems with the adaptability and advanced pattern recognition capabilities of GAINnext™, we can significantly improve sorting efficiency and accuracy.”
There have also been major regulatory developments. During the visit, Edward Kosior, Founder and CEO of Nextek Ltd and the NEXTLOOPP initiative, shared: “In the US, NEXTLOOPP has received FDA approval for the use of recycled polypropylene in food-grade applications. That’s a milestone—it highlights how we’re moving from ambition to reality in making PP circularity achievable.”
Unlocking circular potential through design and collaboration
In addition to showcasing technology and sharing updates, the NEXTLOOPP event also served as an educational platform. Participants saw first-hand how packaging choices directly influence the performance of sorting systems and discovered how thoughtful design can support a more effective recycling process.
Johannes Jacoby, Head of Market Strategy at TOMRA Recycling, emphasized the strategic importance of aligning design with technology: “Recycling isn’t just about using the right technology—it’s about ensuring that the input material is consistent and recognizable. TOMRA advocates a holistic approach, where standardized product design—through consistent colors, shapes, and surface characteristics—helps avoid frequent changes in packaging design and empowers sorting systems to perform with greater consistency. Only when packaging design, sorting technology, and end-market requirements are aligned can we unlock real progress in circularity.”
The NEXTLOOPP visit provided a valuable forum to exchange insights, foster partnerships, and advance the conversation around smarter, more sustainable packaging design. A key consensus among attendees was clear: achieving full plastics circularity depends on active collaboration across the entire value chain. Only through shared commitment—from brand owners and manufacturers to sorting technology providers, recyclers, and end users—can the industry realize the full potential of circular plastics.
