plastics

Within HolyGrail 1.0, digital watermarks were found to be the most promising technology and a basic proof-of-concept for smart sorting was developed. HolyGrail 2.0, the second iteration facilitated by the European Brands Association (AIM), will take this initiative to the next stage by validating the concept and the technology on a semi-industrial scale.

The NFC-enabled digital identification technology will work alongside conventional deposit return and recycling schemes with the aim of encouraging more consumers to recycle plastic packaging.

The technology is being developed by UK-based flexible electronics provider PragmatIC in an initiative known as SPRITE (sustainable plastics recycling innovation by tagging electronically) and supported by the UK government’s Sustainable Innovation Fund.

Announced in 2021, the tethered cap is one of the latest innovations launched by Elopak. The Pure-TwistFlip™ has been designed so that the closure remains attached to the carton throughout its entire lifecycle, thereby reducing the risk of it being littered. It complies with the EU’s Single-Use Plastic Directive, which was introduced as part of efforts to reduce the impact of certain plastic products in the environment and tackle marine littering.

Dow recently introduced its first post-consumer recycled (PCR)-rich resin for collation shrink film in North America, enabling companies to incorporate more post-consumer materials while maintaining the application performance.

The recycled plastic resin, which is designed specifically for retail and logistic shrink film applications, expands Dow’s circular technology portfolio to help more customers and brands achieve their sustainability goals by offering the ability to create shrink film with up to 40% PCR content.

“It’s an exciting day for KDP and our partners as we complete this multi-year journey that required intensive product development, significant capital investment and expansive industry engagement,” said Monique Oxender, chief sustainability officer at KDP.

The increasing demand for pharmaceutical packaging in emerging markets owing to better access to healthcare, rising healthcare expenses, and growing consumer awareness regarding healthier lifestyle. Also, advanced drug delivery and innovative packaging solutions with higher patient convenience and compliance drive the market for pharmaceutical packaging.

• New technology can potentially increase the amount of global plastic waste that can be recycled to 90% when used in conjunction with other chemical and mechanical recycling processes
• New technology can produce recycled feedstock used to make plastics with 57% less CO2-equivalent emissions than plastics produced from fossil feeds
• Sacyr, a Spain-based engineering and services company, will be the first to use the technology