Sustainable Plastics - September/October 2020 - 7

newsround

Cross-value chain initiative HolyGrail 2.0 launched
Under the auspices of AIM, the
European Brands Association,
over 85 companies and organisations have joined forces
with the aim of proving the viability of digital watermarking
for sorting waste at scale. The
project has the ambitious goal
of assessing whether this pioneering digital technology can
enable better sorting and higher-quality recycling rates for
packaging in the EU, to drive a
truly circular economy.
To date, one of the biggest
challenges has been finding a
way to accurately identify packaging, which would promote a
more efficient and higher-quality recycling. Various innovative approaches were explored
within the scope of the New
Plastics Economy programme
of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, with digital watermarks
found to be the most promising technology, having gained
the support of the majority of
stakeholders and passing a basic proof of concept on a test
sorting line.
Postage stamp sized watermarks on packaging-which
are not visible to the naked
eye-make it possible to effectively sort the material into
specific waste streams. Conventional sensor technologies
(e.g. near infrared spectroscopy) are not able to reliably
identify multi-material packaging, so they can end up as
contaminants when recycling
mono-materials. With this new
technology, it becomes possible to separate materials more
accurately and generate new
waste streams, which then can
be recycled with enhanced
recycling technologies. The
technology can provide a significant improvement in sorted
bale quality for recyclers as in
addition to the main polymer,
it should ultimately be possible to specify exactly what is
in the bale other than the main
polymer type; such as levels
of additives, other materials,
inks etc.
These digital watermarks
also open up other opportunities. For example, consumers
can use a smartphone app to
find details about the packag-

ing and how to recycle it, and
brand owners can add product
details as well.
The branded goods industry has now stepped in to
facilitate the next phase as
cross-value chain initiative
under the name "HolyGrail
2.0", which will take place on a
much greater scale and scope.
This will include the launch
of an industrial pilot in order

to prove the viability of digital watermarks technologies
for more accurate sorting of
packaging and higher-quality
recycling, as well as the business case at large scale.

Better sorting with watermark
technology will promote
efficient recycling

live e-xperience

truepassion | realinnovation | virtualexperience

Welcome to the
virtual World of ENGEL
13 - 16 October 2020
ENGEL breaks new ground with an innovative, virtual and interactive trade fair concept since Fakuma won't take place this
year. There will be live exhibits, an online trade congress and
one-on-one meetings with your regional contacts and experts.
Come and visit our interactive exhibition stand online.
ENGEL live e-xperience.
Being part of it has never been so easy!

September/October 2020

http://www.engelglobal.com/experience

Sustainable Plastics - September/October 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sustainable Plastics - September/October 2020