Projects

Over the years, Plarebel has actively contributed to numerous projects, taking on various roles and collaborating closely with our key partners. Additionally, we have been involved in cross-value chain projects, with examples provided below.

 

We participated in the Multi2Recycle project as part of the advisory board, where our role was to provide expert guidance, offer strategic advice, and ensure the project stayed aligned with its objectives. By offering insights and expertise, the advisory board supported the project teams in making informed decisions, ensuring the project moved in the right direction to achieve its goals. Multi2Recycle was led by Pack4Food, Flanders' FOOD, Catalisti, Centexbel, and UHasselt, aiming to evaluate the recyclability of flexible food packaging based on their composition and impact on the shelf life of food products.

 

We are currently participating in the MultiRec project as part of the advisory board. Led by Fraunhofer and MPR&S, MultiRec aims to examine the effects of multiple recycling cycles on the properties and applications of (polyethylene) polyolefin films.

 

In the Holygrail project, driven by AIM, the European Brands Association, and powered by the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, the previous Executive Manager of Plarebel served as Technical Manager, focusing on revolutionizing recycling through advanced sorting technologies like digital watermarks. This innovation makes packaging easier to identify and sort, improving recycling by enabling better material separation, reducing contamination, and increasing overall efficiency.

Currently, we are also involved in the Holygrail Belgian pilot, specifically focusing on flexible food packaging made from polypropylene. The pilot aims to test and demonstrate the effectiveness of digital watermarking technology in improving the sorting and recycling of this type of packaging, which is often challenging due to its complex structure and technical recycling processes to reach food-grade recyclates. Insights from this pilot will be essential for scaling this technology to broader markets and improving recycling rates for flexible food packaging.

 

Additionally, we have been recognized as recycling experts on the CircularDesignInPlastics platform, a collaborative space dedicated to promoting sustainable plastic design and fostering a circular economy. This platform connects stakeholders from across the industry to share best practices, discuss new ideas, and develop solutions for more sustainable plastic products. Our involvement helps drive forward-thinking design strategies that ensure plastics are easier to recycle, contribute less waste, and support a more sustainable future.

 

We are also recognized as experts on the PackItBetter platform, a joint initiative between Valipac and Fost Plus, supported by the Belgian industry. This platform showcases Belgium's expertise in sustainable packaging, offering valuable insights to packaging companies.