Projects

Over the years, Plarebel has actively contributed to numerous projects, taking on various roles and collaborating closely with our key partners. We work primarily with Fost Plus, since 25 years, as technical support on a variety of projects related to the sorting and recycling of fractions from the Blue Bag for PMD waste. 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. [2022-2024]

 

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.

 

We are currently also participating as an associated partner in the R-EU-CYCLE project, an initiative focused on optimizing the sorting and recyclability of plastic flexible food packaging. The project brings together multiple stakeholders to align packaging design with the capabilities of sorting and recycling technologies, ensuring that packaging remains functional for food products while enhancing its recyclability across various multi-actor business cases.

 

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.

 

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.