Henkel, a consumer goods and adhesives company, has partnered with TOMRA Recycling to enhance the sorting and recycling of its packaging.
The company, associated with brands such as Schwarzkopf, Persil, and Pritt, is deploying TOMRA's AUTOSORT detection system in its test laboratory in Düsseldorf, Germany.
The system will be used to test the organisation and recyclability of its packaging before being introduced to the market.
Henkel Consumer Brands packaging sustainability manager Alba Santmarti said: "Design for Recycling is an integral part of the product development process at Henkel. We invest in our in-house capacities to check the sortability of our consumer goods packaging at an early stage. This is the only way to recycle valuable materials in subsequent steps and close material cycles."
TOMRA's AUTOSORT system is equipped with advanced sensor technology to identify material types and colours crucial for recyclability.
The multifunctional sorting solution’s near-infrared and visible imaging sensor combination allows for the precise detection of various materials, including polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and paper.
With AUTOSORT installed in approximately 100 countries, Henkel can now replicate real-life industrial plant conditions, streamlining the process to achieve optimal results.
TOMRA Recycling EVP and head Volker Rehrmann said: "Sorting is an essential step in ensuring that packaging can be recycled instead of ending up in incineration plants.
“At TOMRA, we know how product packaging needs to be designed so that modern sorting technologies can recognise it clearly, and we have made it our mission to share this knowledge.
"A functioning circular economy is only possible if everyone involved in the value chain works together. That’s why collaborations like the one with Henkel are so important."
Last month, Henkel Adhesive Technologies introduced cleaner and coater technology to boost efficiency and sustainability in metal pretreatment.
