BEAVERTON, Ore., April 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Digimarc
Corporation (NASDAQ: DMRC), inventor of the Intuitive Computing
Platform (ICP™) featuring Digimarc Barcode, has announced its
commitment to improve the reliability and efficiency of sorting
plastic waste, most notably signing the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation's New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, which is
focused on building a circular economy.
The deluge of plastic materials being used daily – one million
plastic drinking bottles are purchased every minute around the
world – is creating an enormous challenge when it comes to properly
and efficiently recycling of those items. According to the United
States Environmental Protection Agency, this has led to nearly 26
million tons of plastic ending up in U.S. landfills in recent
years. Sorting different types of plastics is difficult at
recycling centers globally as current sorting technologies are
challenged to accurately and efficiently distinguish between
various types of plastic or differentiate between plastic used for
food or non-food.
Signing the 'New Plastics Economy Global Commitment'
Digimarc has now signed the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New
Plastics Economy Global Commitment, an initiative that aims to
build a circular economy for plastics by bringing together key
stakeholders to rethink and redesign the future of plastics,
starting with packaging. Digimarc joins companies such as Nestlé,
Unilever, PepsiCo and The Coca-Cola Company that also have signed
the Global Commitment. Digimarc will undertake collaborative
projects and other initiatives geared towards the early development
of a packaging solution that will increase the opportunity for
greater sorting accuracy, higher yields, and even help drive
consumer engagement through smartphones to "discover" recycling
content on a package.
"The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment unites businesses,
governments and others behind a clear vision of a circular economy
for plastic. We are pleased Digimarc is joining us, by setting
concrete 2025 targets. Our vision is for a world where plastic
never becomes waste or pollution. It will be a challenging journey,
but by coming together we can eliminate the plastics we don't need
and innovate, so the plastics we do need can be safely and easily
circulated – keeping them in the economy and out of the
environment." - Sander Defruyt, Lead of the New Plastics
Economy initiative at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
Digimarc Barcode offers the potential to more accurately
identify plastics and other recyclables by enhancing the packaging,
such as labels and shrink sleeves, to contain a unique identifier.
In addition, Digimarc Barcode can be used to create a unique
identity in the texture of the plastic material itself through the
molding and engraving processes.
Plastic Identification for Better Sorting
Plastic waste that can be more easily identified and sorted by
an automated sorting machine at a recycling facility can increase
the quality and quantity of recyclable materials available to
brands that are working to achieve sustainability goals.
Furthermore, Digimarc Barcode can also help consumers understand
how to dispose their plastic waste to comply with specific
municipalities; a simple scan with a smartphone can indicate what
kind of plastic it is and how and where it can be recycled.
"Digimarc's ICP is a multisided platform connecting retailers,
consumer brands and consumers in a series of mutually-beneficial
relationships," said Bruce Davis,
CEO, Digimarc. "The reduction of plastic waste materials and the
creation of a circular economy exemplifies how the ICP benefits all
parties on the platform, with retailers and brands being able to
meet consumers' desire for more comprehensive recycling."
Petcore Europe & Pioneer Project Holy Grail
Digimarc is also involved in high-impact projects and working
groups that are addressing some of the biggest challenges in the
world of recycling. Digimarc is participating in the Pioneer
Project Holy Grail, an initiative driven by the Ellen McArthur
Foundation's New Plastics Economy initiative and led by Procter
& Gamble. That project aims to develop an industry-wide system
that leverages technology to simplify the sorting of packaging
waste through using a "barcode of recycling."
The company also became a member of Petcore Europe, a trade
association ensuring the sustainable growth of PET (polyethylene
terephthalate) as a packaging material of choice. Digimarc is
involved in two Petcore Europe technical working groups that are
looking at innovative packaging solutions to ensure a continuous
increase of post-consumer PET recycling. These working groups are
focused on recycling thermoformed PET plastic molds, opaque
plastics and other difficult-to-recycle plastic packaging.
Digimarc Speaking on Recycling Solution
Digimarc will be discussing its commitment and efforts in
recycling at the following industry events:
- Active & Intelligent Packaging Summit Americas –
June 3-4, 2019, Jersey City, NJ
Chief Evangelist Larry Logan will
speak on June 4 at 10:20am ET on Digimarc's approach to plastics
recycling and the company's efforts with the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation in looking at how Digimarc can help reduce plastic waste
in oceans and landfills.
- GS1 Connect – June 19-21,
2019, Denver, CO
Heidi Dethloff, VP of Marketing,
will speak about the recent innovations for Digimarc Barcode and
the ICP that help remove friction throughout the various stages of
recycling.
Digimarc Barcode has many applications and use-cases, carrying
both numeric and alphanumeric data using GS1 identification
standards for product packaging, retail labels, Point-of-Purchase
displays and other printed materials. In the retail industry, for
example, consumers benefit from a faster and more convenient
checkout experience and in-aisle access to detailed product
information. Retailers benefit through more efficient
front-of-store operations, improved inventory accuracy and supply
chain management, reduced product shrink and improved consumer
engagement. Digimarc's recycling initiatives are further extending
the benefits and value proposition of its platform, from initial
manufacturing now through re-birth in recycling, demonstrating
value at every stage in the package journey.
About Digimarc
Digimarc Corporation (NASDAQ: DMRC) is
a pioneer in the automatic identification of everyday objects such
as product packaging and virtually any media, including print,
images and audio. Based on the patented Intuitive Computing
Platform (ICP™), Digimarc provides innovative and comprehensive
automatic recognition technologies to simplify search, and
transform information discovery through unparalleled reliability,
efficiency and security. Digimarc has a global patent
portfolio, which includes over 1,100 granted and pending patents.
These innovations include state-of-the-art identification
technology, Digimarc Barcode, as well as Digimarc
Discover® software for barcode scanning, image
recognition, as layers of its ground-breaking Intuitive Computing
Platform. Digimarc is based in Beaverton, Oregon. Its Platform is used by
major retailers and consumer brands, global banks, U.S. states,
film companies and professional sports franchises, among others.
Visit digimarc.com and follow us @digimarc to learn more
about The Barcode of Everything®.
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SOURCE Digimarc Corporation