Soft plastics recycling platform with traceability being developed

Close the Loop, in collaboration with Recity and GS1 Australia, has announced a plastics recycling initiative, designed to deliver traceability from collection to final use, specifically focusing on post-consumer mixed soft plastics.

The project aligns with the National Framework for Recycled Content Traceability (NFRCT) and is designed to provide transparency of Australian recycled content for end users while automating data capture and reporting.

The NFRCT, released in December 2023, is a voluntary national framework for recycled content traceability. This guideline aims to enhance trust in recycled materials by helping businesses collect and share information, ensuring clear and consistent traceability rules for all recycled content products in Australia.

Close the Loop is tackling the challenges of soft plastic waste by implementing real-time, verifiable tracking of recycled content. Its Circular Contracts platform is designed to enhance soft plastic recycling while fostering commitments that boost demand for recycled products and streamline the recycling process.

Steve Morriss, Founder & Head of Circularity at Close the Loop, said: “We are constantly building innovative products and solutions for Australia’s recycled content and are excited to deliver Circular Contracts with an unprecedented level of transparency.”

He added that the initiative will focus on two key objectives: developing standardised labelling with GS1 Australia and trialling a traceability platform for efficient data exchange enabled by Recity. Recity is a provider of waste management and resource recovery technologies based in India.

Currently, test product trials are underway with Close the Loop and select supply chain partners using standardised labels by GS1 Australia. This should be completed by December with the platform expected to be operational by early 2025.

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