AI Toolset to Improve Plastic Packaging Recycling
Fraunhofer researchers are developing AI tools and a data space to optimize plastic packaging recycling and advance the circular economy.
AI Set to Enhance Plastic Packaging Recycling and Circularity
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute are developing artificial intelligence (AI) tools and a connected data space to significantly improve the recycling of plastic packaging and foster a circular economy. The KIOptiPack innovation lab, backed by 51 industry and research partners, aims to create AI-driven optimization solutions and a data infrastructure linking all stakeholders in the packaging sector.
Plastics are favored for packaging due to their lightweight, durable, and easy-to-process nature, used in over 60 percent of packaged goods in Germany. The industry faces increasing pressure, including new EU regulations mandating a minimum of 35 percent recycled material in plastic packaging by 2030. The KIOptiPack project leverages AI to tackle technological challenges in recycling and processing recycled materials into high-standard packaging.
Developed AI-based optimization tools and a data space allow for efficient consideration of packaging requirements, including environmental impact, functionality, and manufacturing feasibility. The AI tools suggest optimal packaging designs while minimizing material use. The data space integrates information on material properties, origins, and destinations, facilitating data exchange beyond factory gates and enabling the recycling and overall optimization of packaging.
Andrea Büttner from Fraunhofer IVV emphasized the crucial role of a shared data space for better integration of recycled materials. She stated, "Recycled plastic is a valuable material. But the quality of the recyclable plastic has to be right." Contamination from undesired substances can severely impair quality, making systematic data sharing and standardized terminology essential across the industry.
Matthias Reinelt, head of the Shelf Life and Packaging Modeling group at Fraunhofer IVV, explained that AI-driven tools are vital for high-quality recycling. The institute's modular software solutions aid in characterizing materials and linking information flows to identify suitable applications for recycled materials with fluctuating properties, ultimately aiming for sustainable packaging like yogurt cups with homogenous wall thickness.