What is mechanical recycling?
Mechanical recycling is the most widespread and currently only recognised technology for achieving recycling rates in accordance with the German Packaging Act (VerpackG).
Mechanical recycling follows six steps:
- Packaging collection and sorting
- Crushing
- Cleaning
- Drying
- Extrusion
- Pelletisation
Compared to other methods, mechanical recycling is more energy efficient and emits less CO2.
The challenge? In complex packaging, the method reaches its limits and often does not deliver high-quality recycled materials. However, inferior granules are hardly in demand among producers, so the loop cannot be closed.
The solution: More sustainable packaging designs through mono-materials, better waste sorting and the further development of sorting technology increase efficiency.
We are constantly working to improve mechanical recycling.
HolyGrail 2.0: How we improve recycling with digital innovations
Our goal is to achieve a better circular economy in the EU. For this reason, we are associate members in the HolyGrail 2.0 initiative.
Facilitated by AIM – the European Brands Association, we have joined forces with more than 130 companies from the packaging value chain. Together, we are pushing digital innovations that simplify sorting and enable higher-quality packaging recycling.
Digital watermarks are an incredibly innovative technology. They are invisible to the human eye and function like barcodes. The watermarks are the size of a stamp and cover the packaging surface without changing the design.
High-resolution cameras record the codes in the waste sorting system and read them. The information helps the system to more effectively direct the packaging waste into corresponding material flows.
Contact our experts now!
Landbell GmbH
Rheinstraße 4L
55116 Mainz
Germany
Phone: +49 (6131) 235652 – 0
Fax: +49 (6131) 235652 – 10
Email: info@landbell.de
