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# HolyGrail 2.0 validates separation of food and non-food waste in PET recycling streams
- URL: https://packaging-europe.ghost.io/holygrail-20-validates-separation-of-food-and-non-food-waste-in-pet-recycling-streams/
- Published: 2023-05-02T11:49:00.000Z
- Updated: 2025-05-22T21:10:43.000Z
- Author: Packaging Europe staff writers
- Tags: Technology, Sustainability, HolyGrail, Featured Stories, #layout-s, #type-article, #packaging-europe, #Import 2026-09-08 15:47

**The HolyGrail 2.0 digital watermarking initiative has apparently succeeded in separating food and non-food PET packaging waste streams in an industrial environment, with the development hoping to contribute towards the decontamination of food-grade PET output streams at recycling plants.**

Taking place on a PET waste stream at the [Wellman/Indorma](https://www.indoramaventures.com/en/worldwide/817/wellman-france-recyclage?ref=packaging-europe.ghost.io) recycling plant in Verdun, France, the industrial trials utilised a prototype detection module developed by [Pellenc ST](https://www.pellencst.com/?ref=packaging-europe.ghost.io) and [Digimarc](https://www.digimarc.com/?ref=packaging-europe.ghost.io). It sought to reduce watermarked non-food PET bottles in the stream to less than 5% in line with [EFSA](https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en?ref=packaging-europe.ghost.io) guidelines, as well as creating a non-food PET output stream.

This took place on a fully operational line, which had been equipped with the digital watermark detection module, working in standard operating conditions with belt speeds of 3 metres/second and a throughput of 3 tons/hour. It was combined with an NIR unit, which assisted with blowout.

Reportedly, the trials reached an average detection efficiency of 92.1% and sorting efficiency of 88.3%, while two-pass sorting – which is a standard process in recycling plants – reached 95.9% and 95.1% sorting efficiencies respectively. These results are thought to be repeatable on each stream with standard deviations of around 1%, having achieved consistent sorting behaviour in two months’ worth of uninterrupted operations.

EFSA guidelines are said to have been met in a single sorting pass, and it is claimed that a non-food PET stream can also be created for circular use.

Following the trial, the prototype detection module – which was [validated](https://packagingeurope.com/news/holygrail-20-concludes-semi-industrial-trials-with-successful-validation/8056.article?ref=packaging-europe.ghost.io) after semi-industrial testing early last year – will be shipped to MRF Hündgen in Germany for further testing on different post-consumer waste material streams later this year.

Back in February, the [Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV](https://www.fraunhofer.de/en.html?ref=packaging-europe.ghost.io) achieved a sorting efficiency of 90% with its [tracer-based sorting technology](https://packagingeurope.com/news/new-sorting-technology-for-food-safe-packaging-results-in-sorting-purity-of-over-97-according-to-fraunhofer-institute/9418.article?ref=packaging-europe.ghost.io), which aims to separate food and non-food flexible packaging during the packaging and recycling processes.

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