Advancing the circular economy – AI-optimized material development

The transition towards a circular economy is essential for the packaging industry as it seeks to reduce resource consumption and environmental impact. This lecture explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is playing a pivotal role in driving this transition.

AI can be used along the entire value chain to develop optimal packaging and act as a catalyst for advancing circular economy in packaging. By optimizing material selection, enhancing recycling processes, and improving lifecycle analysis, AI is enabling more efficient, sustainable packaging solutions that align with circular economy principles. Key strategies include the integration of AI-driven tools for "design for recycling," improving recyclate quality, and supporting decision-making processes in packaging research and development.

This lecture provides insights from the KIOptiPack project (funded by BMBF), which focuses on developing AI-powered technologies that optimise the design of packaging with high recycled content. Digitalisation forms the basis for the successful use of AI, as it enables the necessary data collection and analysis as well as automated processes. These advancements are critical for helping the industry meet increasing demands for sustainable, circular solutions while maintaining product performance and safety. Nevertheless, there are challenges to the use of AI in the packaging industry, including the availability and security of data, the limitations of AI models and technologies and the lack of qualified personnel.