The latest tests within the HolyGrail 2.0 project represent a breakthrough for digital watermark technology. Between 19 August and 19 December 2024, 5.6 million items of rigid post-consumer plastic packaging with digital watermarks were sorted at product level at Hündgen’s sorting centre in Germany. This marks an important step forward towards greater circularity for plastic packaging.
Post-consumer waste streams
For the first time, the tests used PET, PP and PE rigid plastic packaging to which invisible watermarks had been added by the participating brands before it reached the shelves. Consumers in selected regions in Germany and Denmark bought, used and disposed of this packaging. With efficiency levels of 90% and higher, the tests demonstrate the accuracy of digital watermarks, even under difficult industrial conditions with densely packed material and the presence of product residues.
More recycled plastic in packaging
These findings show that Digimarc digital watermarking technology combined with NIR cameras can improve the traceability of packaging waste at product level. This is important in order to meet the standards for the use of recycled plastic as laid down in the PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation), which will take effect on 1 January 2030. It states that all plastic packaging must contain a certain proportion of recycled material. For food packaging, however, this is currently only possible with recycled PET.
Next step: Belgian tests
Now that HolyGrail 2.0 has been completed, the focus is on market adoption under the HolyGrail 2030 – Circular Packaging Initiative. This follow-up programme aims to prove the economic viability of smart sorting and reprocessing into high-quality recyclates for food and other packaging.
Tests will also take place in Belgium starting this autumn. They will focus specifically on flexible food packaging in PP (films and foils). The aim is to further scale up the technology. So far, Ferrero, Mondelez and Pepsico are already participating in the project, but other brands can still join. As part of the programme, the participants will be given access to recycled food-grade PP – a first for mechanical recycling.