Machine learning assisted leak-free circular plastic packaging design from post-consumer waste

Mechanical sorting is widely applied in the current Dutch waste management scheme, which sorts all of the polyolefin flexible packaging (different types of polyethylene, polypropylene) into the same stream, i.e. DKR 310, with different composition of each batch. Such inconsistency of feedstock composition brings remarkable hurdle to recycle this waste stream particularly on the sealing process design of the circular packaging from the stream. Therefore, Brightlands Materials Center is developing a prediction scheme for sealing performance of flexible packaging with recycled content based on the composition of the waste.

The realization of such prediction method is based on a machine learning assisted material model to tackle the complex polymer interaction of the mixed content and impurities. Therefore, this method could be readily extended in future cases with changes to waste stream composition from improved sorting and increased amount of packaging with mono material design.

A presentation by Yibo Su, research at Brightlands Materials Center.

Yibo states that as a research scientist working in the field of circular plastics, me and my colleagues are always striving to realize circular plastic packaging with minimum carbon foot print and maximized economical benefit. Therefore our research program is focusing on a better circular plastic pacakging design under the current Dutch waste management scheme, and we are targeting on improving the quality of circular plastic packsging by better understanding the sorted waste stream and to offer a suitable solution in a fast response by means of our machine learning assisted design tool.

About Brightlands Materials Center
Brightlands Materials Center develops innovative materials solutions for a sustainable future, with inspired talents and in collaborations with industry, academia and entrepreneurs.

We are committed to support the Green Deal ambitions of the European Union. We follow the Dutch mission-oriented innovation policy focusing especially on the energy transition and the materials transition into a circular economy. We are a proud partner of the first European Circular Hub around Chemelot in the south of the Netherlands.

We are inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In particular Goal 7 Affordable and Clean Energy, Goal 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, Goal 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal 12 Responsible Consumption and Production and Goal 13 Climate Action.
Visit the website for more information.

Yibo Su is speaker at the 2023 edition of the Circular Chemistry Conference which takes place at the Center Court of the Brightlands Chemelot Campus.


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