Out the Box

NOW THAT’S A GOOD IDEA

Plastic progress

Digital watermarking technology could help boost plastic recycling rates.

WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA? New packaging, which allows recycling companies to easily identify different types of plastic, has been introduced commercially in the Netherlands.

HOW DOES IT WORK? Bond Seafood worked with packaging company Multivac and FiliGrade, which creates watermark solutions for packaging, to develop a process to separate food and non-food application packaging.

The newly-created fish packaging features CurvCode, which works like Braille, with a number of raised dots enabling the type of plastic to be easily identified. Packaging with the CurvCode watermark can then be mechanically separated using special detection equipment.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT? CurvCode means other waste management strategies which overlook the potential of plastics, like incineration, can be avoided. FiliGrade also intends for the technology to be used on other types of plastic, including PP and PE. It could also be used to separate different colours, and paper laminates.

WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING? Han Meiberg on behalf of FiliGrade, said: “Collaboration in the production and waste chain is crucial. CurvCode is a chain solution. We are proud of the fact that we have now formed a coalition of around 30 parties who are united in their desire to further tackle the waste and sorting problem in the Netherlands. We want to accelerate and believe in high-quality sorting and recycling, in the Netherlands, and then also in the rest of Europe.”

Bond Seafood’s Marcel Bond added: “After an intensive preparation period, in which the Multivac team continually thought along with us and tested, it is wonderful that we are the first (fish) producer to participate in this innovation in the field of waste sorting.” Bond said trays with smoked mackerel and herring fillets are now on shelves at one national retailer, with the expectation that Dutch supermarket chain Plus, among others, will soon follow suit.

Mart de Koning, of Multivac, commented: “We like to collaborate on sustainable (environmental) solutions. We think along, test and fine-tune the packaging and the machines. This initiative, with Bond Seafood and FiliGrade, with support from the retail market, is a great example of a win-win situation.”

Meiberg continued: “Dealing with plastic waste is a major issue in today’s society which is why we are always open to chain partners who are interested. Parties who want to participate are welcome to apply.”

ANYTHING ELSE? FiliGrade is part of the Coalition Food2Food 2.0, which includes more than 30 chain partners committed to the circular use of plastics, this includes FrieslandCampina, Spar, and Unilever. The focus is on an industrial test of CurvCode as efficient sorting is important for transition to a circular plastic chain.

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS? The FiliGrade website offers lots more information about CurvCode.

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