Mondelēz, PepsiCo, and pladis test digital watermarks for packaging sorting

Mondelēz International, PepsiCo, and pladis have joined a nationwide pilot program in Belgium to test the effectiveness of invisible digital watermarks in improving the sorting of flexible packaging.

The HolyGrail 2030 trial, coordinated by the European Brands Association (AIM), aims to determine if Digimarc watermarks can help sorting facilities distinguish between food-contact flexible packaging and non-food materials. This capability is essential for meeting the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which mandates a 10% minimum of recycled content for contact-sensitive packaging by 2030.

In the trial, Fost Plus manages the collection of household recycling in Belgium. The sorted film is then sent to Hündgen Entsorgungs in Germany, where high-resolution cameras from Pellenc ST are used to detect the watermarks. Successful implementation could allow for more precise recycling streams, ensuring that recycled plastics meet the stringent safety and traceability requirements necessary for food-grade applications.