Smart Molding International 2-2021

IML & IMD 22 smart_molding international 2/2021 W ith its arburgGREENworld programme, Arburg is dem - onstrating its commitment to the circular economy and resource conservation. Work on innovative tech - nologies for a closed-loop economy is forging ahead in collaboration with prestigious partners. These innovations include the “HolyGrail2.0” project for separating plastic packaging into ho - mogenous types via digital watermarks. The project has recently moved to the next phase and since September 2020 is being taken forward under the aus - pices of the European Brands Associa - tion AIM. More than 85 companies and organisations from every stage of the value chain are involved in the project. Of these, Arburg is the only manufac - turer of injection moulding machines. “As early as the pilot project phase of HolyGrail, we were able to demon - strate the fantastic potential of the digital watermark technology based on the example of IML containers made frommono-material,” explains Bertram Stern, Packaging and Circular Economy Manager at Arburg. “It is now all about rolling out the project across Europe with the aim of using this technology for the homogenous sorting and sepa - ration of plastic packaging on a large scale as well as to facilitate smart and cost-effective recycling.” Initiative combining the know-how of more than 85 partners Arburg is involved in various working groups as part of the Europe – wide project, which was launched in Sep - tember 2020 and is due to be com - pleted in the summer of 2022. The AIM is coordinating activities from its headquarters in Brussels, in compli - ance with current EU legislation. “Lively discussions with associations and pres - tigious partners including Beiersdorf, Dow, Henkel, Nestle and Sick are cre - ating significant momentum. By work - ing together we will succeed in moving HolyGrail2.0 forward effectively,” says Bertram Stern with confidence. Once a packaging concept has been devel - oped, the semi-industrial test phase is scheduled to start in the spring of 2021. The EU legislation foresees that by 2030 all plastic packaging across Eu - rope will be reusable, easily recyclable or compostable. The target reprocess - ing and recycling rate is 60 per cent. Intelligent sorting with a digital watermark Efficient and high-quality recycling relies on plastic waste being collected appropriately and separated in the most effective way. Furthermore, all industrial processes forming part of Work on innovative technologies for a closed-loop economy is forging ahead in collaboration with prestigious partners: more than 85 companies and organisations from every stage of the value chain are involved in the project. HolyGrail2.0: moving to the next stage with Arburg

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