NEWS


Designing reusable packaging


UK-based plastics re- source efficiency and recycling organisation Recoup has launched the inaugural edition of Reusability by Design guidance. The report has been put together to assist stakeholders with the design of reusable plastic packaging that “meets the needs of the value chain from packag- ing manufacturers, packer/ fillers, brands, retailers, consumers, service provid- ers through to waste management companies”. Based on research,


surveys, workshops and interviews, the guidance has been produced as a workstream of the UKRI-funded Trace project, led by Pragmatic, with various partners. � www.recoup.org � www.ukri.org


France to be pilot market for digital watermarks


Building on successful semi-industrial digital watermark trials, stakehold- ers across the packaging value chain have selected France as the European pilot market for Digimarc Recycle. All operators in France have been invited to participate, marking an expansion in activities that were previously limited to HolyGrail 2.0 members. Results from European trials showed that Digimarc’s technology achieved a 99% average detection rate across all tested categories of plastic packaging. Digimarc said the effective- ness of Digimarc Recycle has also been validated in Canada, again with a 99% detection rate, in a pilot with the Circular Plastics Task- force. CPT aims to imple- ment Digimarc Recycle in Canadian facilities in 2023.


Above: Simplified graphic of the Digimarc Recycle technology “As the semi-industrial


trials clearly demonstrated last year, digital watermark- ing technology has the power to transform recy- cling,” said Digimarc CEO Riley McCormack. “With regulation like the Packag- ing and Packaging Waste Regulation in the EU on the horizon, Digimarc can


support companies with the innovation they need to comply, demonstrate leadership, and foster a more sustainable future.” France was chosen as the pilot market for multiple rea- sons, including support from French producer responsibility group CITEO. � www.digimarc.com


Alpla-headed JV opens first Romanian plant


After a construction time of nine months and an investment of around €7.5m, the Alpla Group, together with partners Ecohelp and UPT, has opened its first Romanian PET recycling plant adjacent to the existing Ecohelp site in Targu Mures. The joint venture, which was established in 2021, combines the skillsets of the three companies involved, with Alpla bringing its recycling expertise, UPT providing an extensive


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distribution network, and local company Ecohelp supplying rPET flakes based on PET bottles from house-


The PET Recycling Team Targu Mures facility


hold waste. The PET Recycling Team


Targu Mures JV will supply the southeast European


market with around 18,000 tonnes/yr of food-grade rPET.


Expansion potential has


already been identified as the plant has space for a second extrusion line, which would double capacity. Alpla has been investing


more than €50m annually in capacity expansions and technology development since 2021. It plans to double the annual produc- tion of recycled materials at its plants by 2026. � www.alpla.com


PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD | January/February 2023 www.plasticsrecyclingworld.com


IMAGE: ALPLA


IMAGE: DIGIMARC CORPORATION


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