Områ – Innovative Partnership For Sustainable Recycling
Developed as a joint venture between TOMRA Feedstock and Plastretur, the plant is now operating under the new brand Områ – a name that symbolizes the companies’ joint commitment to advancing sustainable plastic recycling on an industrial scale. The facility is specifically designed to serve as Norway’s national sorting hub for post-consumer plastic packaging waste.
With a maximum capacity of 90,000 tons per year, Områ is the first dedicated sorting plant of its kind in the country. Following the successful cold commissioning earlier this year, the project entered its hot commissioning phase on the end of April 25 processing real waste for the first time. Full commercial operation is scheduled to begin in November 2025.
Sutco® As A Strong Partner In EPC Contracts
As the project’s EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contractor, Sutco – together with engineering consultant Mepex, and in collaboration with TOMRA Feedstock and Plastretur – was responsible for the complete project design and planning.
The company’s role included the seamless integration of high-capacity mechanical systems with TOMRA’s advanced sensor-based sorting technology, which enables the production of eleven high-purity plastic fractions. These fractions are suitable for both mechanical and chemical recycling routes and enabling Områ to maximize material recovery and reduce incineration.
Sutco® ProDigit: Digital Platform For Greater Efficiency And Availability
A standout feature of the plant is its integration with Sutco’s proprietary ProDigit platform – a modular digital solution for real-time process control and system monitoring. ProDigit gives operators the ability to oversee the full material flow, monitor different rates, track energy usage, and assess equipment performance live and remotely. With AI-assisted data analytics and predictive maintenance tools, the platform boosts operational efficiency while minimizing unplanned downtime. It also offers full connectivity while hosted by Sutco on servers in Germany allowing for remote control and seamless integration into future automation and digitization initiatives.
“With Områ, we’ve delivered one of the most technologically advanced plastic sorting facilities in Europe,” said Sutco. “The combination of intelligent mechanical engineering and digital precision via ProDigit positions this plant at the front-end of the circular economy.”
Områ As A Key Project For Norway’s Circular Economy
The strategic importance of the Områ plant has been underlined by its founding partners. Joachim N. Amland, Senior Vice President and Head of TOMRA Feedstock, emphasized the technological potential of the site:
“We’re using TOMRA’s most advanced sensor technology and machine learning capabilities to deliver feedstock material recyclers can actually use.”
Karl Johan Ingvaldsen, CEO of Plastretur, added: “On behalf of Plastretur, I’m proud that our initiative to establish a national sorting facility for plastics is now becoming a reality.”
Forward-Looking Solutions For The Global Recycling Market
As Norway’s national hub for plastic sorting, Områ is a critical part of the country’s strategy to reduce dependency on fossil-based raw materials and transition toward a circular economy. The plant ensures that plastic packaging waste is no longer incinerated, but rather recovered and reused – contributing to both Norway’s and the EU’s recycling and climate targets.
Looking ahead, Sutco’s technologies and expertise will also be applied in future plastic sorting plants planned in the coming years. Drawing on experience from more than 500 international installations in different sectors, Sutco supports the development of high-performance, efficient, and digitally enabled recycling infrastructure worldwide.
Sutco® RecyclingTechnik GmbH, based in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of sorting and treatment plants for non-hazardous waste. The company’s ProDigit platform and commitment to innovation make Sutco® a key enabler of the global shift toward circularity and digital transformation in the recycling sector.
