The AI Application Hub for Plastic Packaging, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research and Education to promote sustainable packaging development through the use of artificial intelligence, is presenting its first major milestones in a Germany-wide campaign at four different locations in November.
In Aachen, Darmstadt, Dresden and Nuremberg, experts from more than 51 partners from business, science and society will present, among other things, visionary packaging development software and IT models for the first-ever linking of multiple players in the plastics packaging industry in a virtual data room.
The life cycle assessment is playing an increasingly important role in packaging development. As plastic packaging is notoriously difficult to break down, it is all the more important to recycle it and keep it in the cycle. This is also required by a new EU regulation, which stipulates that all plastic packaging must be made from a minimum of 35 per cent recycled materials by 2030. This is where the research of the AI application hub The AI application hub for plastic packaging is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and is made up of the two innovation labs Innovation labs KIOptiPack and K3I-Cycling together. They are working towards the common goal of making the plastic packaging value chain more sustainable. From design and production to closing the loop, AI methods are being tested in specific use cases and put into practice.and KIOptiPack.
Holistic packaging design thanks to the use of AI
As part of the KIOptiPack innovation laboratory, the scientists, together with the partners and companies involved, have set themselves the task of, a completely new, cross-industry software which can take into account a whole range of the above-mentioned requirements for plastic packaging and combine them into an overall view with the help of mathematical models and AI-based methods. Once all the data has been fully integrated, the software will suggest the best possible packaging designs for a particular product while minimising the amount of material required. Leading players from all areas of the packaging industry are currently combining existing software modules that take into account a wide range of factors, such as the shelf life of the product, the life cycle assessment of packaging, its impact on the environment, the use of recycled materials and even consumer acceptance. For the first time, this enables companies to achieve an optimised packaging solution in terms of sustainability without the need for time-consuming test phases and additional material usage.
„Think of the innovative software as a personalised navigation system for packaging production. Just as a navigation device analyses different routes and suggests the best route, this software bundles all relevant factors and offers recommendations for optimisation.“
Dr Malte Schön, Project Manager KIOptiPack at the Institute of Plastics Processing IKV at RWTH Aachen University
With the help of existing software elements, the AI hub experts were recently able to demonstrate in advance in a study on meat packaging and its environmental impact that, contrary to all expectations, the answer to greater sustainability in this type of fresh produce does not necessarily lie in reducing the amount of packaging. Less packaging does not automatically lead to less environmental impact - This is because their savings do not result in the required shelf life and the consumer then has to dispose of the food instead of consuming it.
Shared data room for sustainable packaging solutions
Another milestone of the AI application hub is a Specially developed electronic system, which allows the collection and linking of information from various players in the packaging industry in order to establish more sustainable production processes - in other words, a common infrastructure and data exchange across factory boundaries. Both will be essential in the future in order to be able to better incorporate recyclates into packaging solutions.
Their sometimes heterogeneous quality poses particular challenges for the industry because it is often not clear what components the recyclates actually consist of or how many and which impurities they may still contain - from recyclate manufacturers to companies that produce packaging films and the food industry, a systematic exchange of data and a standardised terminology will therefore be needed in future.
„In order to make this exchange meaningful, we first had to develop a completely new ontology, i.e. data language, for the entire industry. A kind of ‚dictionary‘ for all players in the value chain. Individual data records can thus be assigned to specific and universally valid generic categories and designations and made accessible and usable for everyone.“
Prof Dr Christoph Quix from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology FIT.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV in Dresden is also organising the Open Hub Days. presented an IT linking model for a planned data exchange based on the categories created for the first time. This shows how a wide variety of players and companies and their information can be connected via a kind of secure data highway. The data itself remains protected on the computers of the individual players - so nobody has to disclose sensitive information to potential competitors. In this way too, conclusions can be drawn about the material behaviour of packaging, enabling faster and better material developments.
„As researchers, we are delighted to be able to contribute to the transformation towards more sustainable packaging solutions based on reliable data with our developments. Our next step is to launch similar research projects for the paper industry.“
Prof Marek Hauptmann, Project manager for the KIOptiPack application at the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV
Open Hub Days in November
Darmstadt - 4 to 7 November
The Open Hub Days in Darmstadt will take place at four locations on four consecutive days. The individual days represent the steps in the plastic packaging recycling chain - from collection and sorting, recycling and possible reutilisation to project-related sustainability assessments.
Dresden - 12 November
In Dresden, the partners of the KIOptiPack innovation lab are using the specific example of the production of plastic cups the range of current research on packaging development from recycled plastics can be understood and experienced - from granulate and film properties to odour perception and the finished product. Visitors to the Fraunhofer IVV can look forward to an exciting tour, live demonstrations and personal dialogue with scientists.
Nuremberg - 7 November
The Open Hub Day in Nuremberg will take place in the Josephs Open Innovation Lab. As part of the event, experts and project partners will present Artificial intelligence in the recycling of plastic packaging. Exciting presentations such as „DangerSort: A sorting system for detecting and sorting lithium-ion batteries from waste streams“ and „AI-based recycling from the perspective of privacy and environmental ethics“ round off the day.
Aachen - 6 November
Researchers from the KIOptiPack innovation lab will be providing information in Aachen on the topic of "Packaging made from recycled plastics“. They will cover a wide range of Topics ranging from machine development and process management to customer acceptance stretch.
Source: Fraunhofer IVV
