HolyGrail completes test phase for recognition device

Digital watermarks for the automatic sorting of packaging are seen as a beacon of hope for the circular economy. The HolyGrail 2.0 initiative has now announced the successful completion of the test phase for a recognition device for such watermarks.

The initiative HolyGrail 2.0 for digital watermarks used by the AIM - European Brands Association and supported by the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, has reached an important milestone with the successful validation of a prototype digital watermark recognition device following semi-industrial tests modelled on real-life conditions. The results show that digital watermarking technology can be used to achieve more accurate sorting of packaging waste on a large scale, such as the development of segregated food and other new PCR streams that do not currently exist (e.g. for cosmetics or detergent applications). This would open up new recycling streams, overcome the limitations of current near-infrared (NIR) sorting technologies and promote a truly circular economy for packaging

The consistently high results for all tested categories of plastic packaging material with an average detection rate of 99 per cent, a rejection rate of 95 per cent and a purity rate of 95 per cent prove the high performance of the first prototype. The recognition unit developed by machine manufacturer Pellenc ST and digital watermarking technology provider Digimarc is now available on the market. ready for pilot trials on an industrial scale, which are scheduled to begin this year. Details of the industry partners and the scope of packaging will be announced at the next conferences.