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Belgium Recycles Snack Wrappers into Food Packs
26 Jun
Summary
- Belgium tests new tech to make food-grade packaging from snack wrappers.
- Invisible watermark guides sorting equipment for specialized recycling.
- Trial involves major food firms and aims to meet EU recycled content goals.
Belgium is pioneering a large-scale pilot program aimed at recycling crisp packets and other snack wrappers into new packaging suitable for food use. This initiative marks Belgium as the first country in Europe to undertake such a comprehensive test for snack packaging recycling.
The system employs an invisible watermark, akin to a QR code, embedded within the plastic packs. This marking allows advanced sorting equipment at recycling facilities to accurately recognize and segregate food-grade packaging from other plastic waste. This precise separation is crucial, as plastic intended for food packaging must adhere to rigorous safety standards.
Several major food corporations, including Mondelez, Ferrero, and PepsiCo, are involved in this pilot project. If successful, this approach is expected to assist Belgium in achieving future European Union targets for recycled content in food packaging. By 2030, EU regulations mandate that plastic food packaging must contain at least 10% recycled material.
