How AI can foster circularity in the plastics industry
main text
How AI can foster circularity in the plastics industry
Artificial intelligence could play a central role in transforming the plastics industry into a circular system by the end of the decade, according to a new position paper from the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Circular Plastics Economy (CCPE).
The report argues that AI already has strong potential to improve efficiency, product quality and recyclability across the plastics value chain, but warns that technological progress alone will not be enough. Without shared data infrastructures, common standards and viable business models, AI applications will struggle to scale from pilot projects to industrial deployment.
The position paper, Artificial Intelligence in the Plastics Value Chain by 2030, was developed through an analysis of existing research and a survey of 46 experts from Fraunhofer CCPE and partners involved in the BMFTR-funded projects KIOptiPack and K3ICycling.
The study comes at a time when Europe’s plastics sector faces declining production volumes and increasing regulatory demands, including recycled-content requirements, eco-design rules and the introduction of digital product passports. These pressures, combined with growing global competition, are accelerating the search for new technological solutions, the report explains.
AI technologies are already used in areas such as image recognition, process control and sorting systems in plastics production and recycling. By 2030, their role could expand significantly, according to Fraunhofer’s research, supporting everything from materials development and product design to manufacturing optimisation and recycling processes.
..... For more detailed information, please refer to the link below.
* Edit : HANDLER