BASF Joins Holygrail 2.0 Digital Watermarking Initiative for Smart Packaging Recycling

BASF, as a member, joined "HolyGrail 2.0 - digital watermarks for correct sorting and high-quality recycling." The initiative aims to increase plastic recycling rates by adding imperceptible digital watermarks to product packaging. Under the patronage of AIM (European Brand Association) and BASF, more than 120 companies and organizations from the packaging value chain have joined forces in an initiative to demonstrate the feasibility of digital watermark technologies for correct sorting and business viability on a large scale.   Dr. Achim Sties, Senior Vice President, BASF Europe Performance Chemicals, said: "Plastics used in packaging are extremely valuable materials for protecting products and reducing food waste. When plastics are properly sorted, we provide a suitable additive package to turn them into high-performance applications. For this reason, we are excited to support HolyGrail 2.0 in the search for optimized and circular plastic packaging solutions." Ineffective sorting is one of the main barriers to wider recycling of lightweight packaging waste and thus achieving a circular economy for packaging. The better the packaging is classified and identified, the more efficient the mechanical recycling process becomes and the better the quality of recycled products.