Sonoco Participates in European Recycling Trials That Show Digital Watermarking Yields Accurate Container Sortation Results
June 20 2022 - 4:10PM
The first HolyGrail 2.0 sorting prototype was successfully
validated in March this year following semi-industrial trials,
using NIR and digital watermarks detection to sort packaging waste
with a 99 percent detection rate and the potential to develop new,
more granular post-consumer recycling streams.
The Digital Watermarks Initiative HolyGrail 2.0, driven by AIM –
European Brands Association, and powered by the Alliance to End
Plastic Waste, has the goal of assessing whether the digital
watermarks technology can enable better sorting and higher-quality
recycling rates for packaging in the EU. Today, more than 160
partners across the value chain are working together to refine and
commercialize this concept. Sonoco, one of the largest global
sustainable packaging companies, is a member of the HolyGrail 2.0
initiative to prove the viability of digital watermarking for
sorting packaging waste and the business case at scale, likely with
global implications.
Trials in Copenhagen found that using digital watermarks on
packaging resulted in 98 - 100 percent being correctly detected,
with a subsequent total ejection rate of 90 - 100 percent. During
the live trial in a mix of five different packaging types of
various brands, 96 percent of Sonoco’s rigid paper containers were
correctly detected and ejected. This demonstrates an additional
approach to sort Sonoco’s EnviroCan™ rigid paper containers into
the paper recycling stream.
“At Sonoco, we recognize the critical importance of developing
sustainable packaging solutions that will protect and preserve our
planet for future generations,” said Jeff Schuetz, Staff Vice
President, Consumer Technology. “We are proud to be a member of the
HolyGrail 2.0 initiative and are pleased with this successful trial
to further our sustainable packaging portfolio. We are committed to
advancing sortation and recycling of packaging of all types.”
Imperceptible postage stamp sized, digital watermarks on
packaging aim to make it possible to effectively sort the material
into specific waste streams. Conventional sorting technologies are
not able to reliably identify multi-material packaging, so they can
end up in the wrong recycling streams or drop to the refuse stream
all together. With this new digital watermarking technology, it
becomes possible to separate materials more accurately into
distinct streams, even in cases of multi-material packaging. It is
even possible to distinguish between packaging coming from food and
non-food applications, which becomes increasingly important for the
use of recycled material in new packaging. With the trials in
Copenhagen, Sonoco can show high compatibility of its rigid paper
containers using this technology across all sizes and material
specifications.
About SonocoFounded in 1899, Sonoco (NYSE: SON)
is a global provider of consumer, industrial, healthcare and
protective packaging. With net sales of approximately $5.6 billion
in 2021, the Company has approximately 22,000 employees working in
more than 300 operations in 32 countries, serving some of the
world’s best-known brands in some 85 nations. Sonoco is committed
to creating sustainable products, services and programs for its
customers, employees and communities that support our corporate
purpose of Better Packaging. Better Life. The Company ranked first
in the Packaging sector on Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies
for 2022 as well as being included in Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable
Companies for the third consecutive year. For more information,
visit www.sonoco.com.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2942e7c6-e14d-4dce-9a41-ca507edd7ce0
Contact:
Lisa Weeks
843-383-7524
lisa.weeks@sonoco.com
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