> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://packaging-europe.ghost.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Recycleye, Valorplast, and TotalEnergies use AI and computer vision to sort food-grade PP during mechanical recycling - URL: https://packaging-europe.ghost.io/recycleye-valorplast-and-totalenergies-use-ai-and-computer-vision-to-sort-food-grade-pp-during-mechanical-recycling/ - Published: 2023-11-21T15:30:00.000Z - Updated: 2025-05-22T21:10:43.000Z - Author: Packaging Europe staff writers - Tags: Automation & Software, Collaboration, Sustainability, #layout-s, #type-article, #packaging-europe, #Import 2026-09-08 15:47 **Project OMNI – a research project directed by** [**Recycleye**](https://recycleye.com/?ref=packaging-europe.ghost.io)**,** [**Valorplast**](https://www.valorplast.com/?ref=packaging-europe.ghost.io)**, and** [**TotalEnergies**](https://totalenergies.com/?ref=packaging-europe.ghost.io) **that utilizes AI and machine learning to identify and separate food-grade polypropylene from household post-consumer waste – has led to ‘ground-breaking results’, the companies report.** Project OMNI is one of seven successful projects selected in [Citeo](https://www.citeo.com/?ref=packaging-europe.ghost.io)’s call for projects in October 2020\. It is said to have proven the viability of sorting food-grade polypropylene waste with AI, computer vision, and an ‘efficient’ decontamination process. Using waste collected from five French locations by Valorplast, Recycleye built and trained an AI model; the AI and robotic sorting has apparently achieved a successful pick rate of 50% of the food-grade material and >95% purity. This material was further decontaminated on a semi-industrial pilot based on off-the-shelf mechanical recycling technologies, at which point TotalEnergies used it to produce recycled polypropylene for high-end packaging applications. It is hoped that Project OMNI, the result of eighteen months of research, will facilitate ‘system-wide packaging changes’ and take steps towards circularity for polypropylene packaging. “This project not only demonstrates how cutting-edge technology can improve material circularity, but also paves the way for a wider range of accessible applications for recycled polymers to serve our customers,” explained Nathalie Brunelle, senior vice president of Polymers at TotalEnergies. “It provides a concrete response to the challenge of managing end-of-life plastics, and fully supports our ambition of reaching 1 million tons of circular polymers.” Victor Dewulf, CEO of Recycleye, continued: “We are extremely excited to see this successful application of our robust AI-powered sorting technology at a semi-industrial scale. This application opens the possibility of creating new markets for recycled plastics materials; ultimately changing the economics of recycling.” “Being able to recycle food-grade PP is a key factor in the establishment of a circular economy for PP packaging,” added Alban Cotard, Sales Quality and Development manager at Valorplast. “AI is a promising route for achieving this objective.” Further developments in AI sorting include Recycleye’s work with [FANUC UK](https://www.fanuc.eu/uk/en?ref=packaging-europe.ghost.io) to develop an automated [detection and sorting process](https://packagingeurope.com/news/ai-robotic-picking-technology-aspires-to-optimise-recycling-operations-and-address-labour-shortages/10184.article?ref=packaging-europe.ghost.io) for dry mixed recyclables using AI vision technology and LR Mate robots. The solution is said to reach a sorting accuracy of 12% and a 10% improvement in line output. [Greyparrot](https://www.greyparrot.ai/?ref=packaging-europe.ghost.io)’s AI-powered [waste recognition system](https://packagingeurope.com/news/greyparrots-ai-powered-waste-recognition-system-receives-funding-from-amcor/10061.article?ref=packaging-europe.ghost.io) has also received a $500,000 investment and access to [Amcor](https://www.amcor.com/?ref=packaging-europe.ghost.io)’s sustainability and packaging capabilities as a winner of the latter’s Lift-Off programme. This is hoped to scale up the technology in pursuit of a circular economy. **If you liked this article, you might also enjoy:** [*The L’Oréal approach to packaging sustainability*](https://packagingeurope.com/features/the-loreal-approach-to-packaging-sustainability/10150.article?sourcecode=pe-article&ref=packaging-europe.ghost.io) [*The way we talk about plastic needs to change – here’s how to get it right*](https://packagingeurope.com/features/the-way-we-talk-about-plastic-needs-to-change-heres-how-to-get-it-right/10449.article?sourcecode=pe-article&ref=packaging-europe.ghost.io) [*What steps is Apple taking to make its packaging more sustainable?*](https://packagingeurope.com/news/what-steps-is-apple-taking-to-make-its-packaging-more-sustainable/10304.article?sourcecode=pe-article&ref=packaging-europe.ghost.io) [*The Danone approach to packaging sustainability*](https://packagingeurope.com/comment/the-danone-approach-to-packaging-sustainability/10433.article?sourcecode=pe-article&ref=packaging-europe.ghost.io)