Information-Based Plastic Material Tracking for Circular Economy—A Review

Rumetshofer, Thomas; Fischer, Joerg

doi:10.3390/polym15071623

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 63 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…A suitable traceability system should combine physical marking with data sharing platforms that provide access to information about products and materials. A recent scientific review paper analyses four different technological areas for information-based tracking solutions for plastic materials, viz., physical markers and tracers, blockchain, Digital Product Passports and a certification system [30]. The authors summarized the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges for all four tracking technologies in an SWOT analysis, as summarized in Table 1.…”

Section: Information-based Traceability Of Plasticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review and Assessment of Existing and Future Techniques for Traceability with Particular Focus on Applicability to ABS Plastics

Jakubowicz,

Yarahmadi

2024

Polymers

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

It is generally recognized that the use of physical and digital information-based solutions for tracking plastic materials along a value chain can favour the transition to a circular economy and help to overcome obstacles. In the near future, traceability and information exchange between all actors in the value chain of the plastics industry will be crucial to establishing more effective recycling systems. Recycling plastics is a complex process that is particularly complicated in the case of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic because of its versatility and use in many applications. This literature study is part of a larger EU-funded project with the acronym ABSolEU (Paving the way for an ABS recycling revolution in the EU). One of its goals is to propose a suitable traceability system for ABS products through physical marking with a digital connection to a suitable data-management system to facilitate the circular use of ABS. The aim of this paper is therefore to review and assess the current and future techniques for traceability with a particular focus on their use for ABS plastics as a basis for this proposal. The scientific literature and initiatives are discussed within three technological areas, viz., labelling and traceability systems currently in use, digital data sharing systems and physical marking. The first section includes some examples of systems used commonly today. For data sharing, three digital technologies are discussed, viz., Digital Product Passports, blockchain solutions and certification systems, which identify a product through information that is attached to it and store, share and analyse data throughout the product’s life cycle. Finally, several different methods for physical marking are described and evaluated, including different labels on a product’s surface and the addition of a specific material to a polymer matrix that can be identified at any point in time with the use of a special light source or device. The conclusion from this study is that the most promising data management technology for the near future is blockchain technology, which could be shared by all ABS products. Regarding physical marking, producers must evaluate different options for individual products, using the most appropriate and economical technology for each specific product. It is also important to evaluate what information should be attached to a specific product to meet the needs of all actors in the value chain.

show abstract

Section: Information-based Traceability Of Plasticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review and Assessment of Existing and Future Techniques for Traceability with Particular Focus on Applicability to ABS Plastics

Jakubowicz,

Yarahmadi

2024

Polymers

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Watermarking plastics using blockchain technology involves sophisticated integration of digital markings or tags into plastic products during manufacturing [74]. These digital watermarks encode important data about each plastic item, including the type of material, production date, manufacturer details, and specific recycling instructions [75].…”

Section: Blockchain Digital Watermarking Of Plastic Wastementioning

confidence: 99%

Blockchain-Based Management of Recyclable Plastic Waste

Bułkowska,

Zielińska,

Bułkowski

2024

Energies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Effective management of recyclable plastic waste is critical for environmental sustainability and economic viability. Blockchain technology has transformative potential in addressing the challenges of plastic waste management. Currently, the inefficiency of plastic recycling systems results in low recycling rates and significant environmental impacts due to poor sorting, contamination, and limited technology application. However, innovations such as chemical recycling, solvent-based techniques, and biotechnology offer promising advances in the management of plastic waste. Blockchain technology provides a transparent, decentralized ledger that enhances traceability and incentives through smart contracts, decentralized applications (DApps), and digital watermarks. These blockchain solutions can improve waste tracking, automate payments, and reward participants who recycle responsibly. Although significant investment in technology and education is required, integrating blockchain with the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven analytics could revolutionize plastic waste management by creating transparent, efficient, and collaborative recycling ecosystems. Blockchain technology has immense potential to redefine the management of plastic waste and promote a sustainable, circular economy.

show abstract

“…The recyclability of the system components was investigated by separate (lid or tray) and combined (lid + tray) reprocessing, according to Table 2. Currently, there is no uniform standard procedure for the mechanical recycling of polymer waste, but there are some existing guidelines, specifications, and pieces of research on possible certification systems for waste polymers, which provide guidance for processing and testing [52,53]. Prior to the mechanical recycling process, the MAP was sorted, cold-washed, and cut manually.…”

Section: Materials and Test Specimenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prospects for Recyclable Multilayer Packaging: A Case Study

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Food preservation is an essential application for polymers, particularly in packaging. Complex multilayer films, such as those used for modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), extend the shelf life of sensitive foods. These mostly contain various polymers to achieve the necessary combination of mechanic, optic, and barrier properties that limit their recyclability. As the European Union’s Circular Economy Action Plan calls for sustainable products and business models, including waste prevention policies and recycling quotas, with plastic packaging being a high priority, solutions towards more sustainable multilayer packaging are urgently needed. This study evaluated and compared the recycling potential of functionally equivalent PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PP (polypropylene) post-consumer MAP through structure analysis and recycling simulation. The structure analysis revealed that both types of MAP contained functional (stability) and barrier layers (oxygen and moisture). The recycling simulation showed that the PP-based packaging was recyclable 10 times, maintaining its mechanical properties and functionality. At the same time, the PET-based MAP resulted in a highly brittle material that was unsuitable for reprocessing into similar economic value products. The secondary material from the PP-based MAP was successfully manufactured into films, demonstrating the functional possibility of closed-loop recycling. The transition from a linear to a circular economy for MAP is currently still limited by safety concerns due to a lack of sufficient and efficient purification methods, but the proper design of multilayers for recyclability is a first step towards circularity.

show abstract

Information-Based Plastic Material Tracking for Circular Economy—A Review

Cited by 4 publications

References 63 publications

Review and Assessment of Existing and Future Techniques for Traceability with Particular Focus on Applicability to ABS Plastics

Review and Assessment of Existing and Future Techniques for Traceability with Particular Focus on Applicability to ABS Plastics

Blockchain-Based Management of Recyclable Plastic Waste

Prospects for Recyclable Multilayer Packaging: A Case Study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About