SMX technology to be used by recycling plant operators

SMX (Security Matters) PLC, a Dublin-based company specializing in marking, measuring and tracking technologies, says the Washington-based North American Flame Retardant Alliance (NAFRA), the Brussels-based International Bromine Council (BSEF) and member companies will use SMX’s technology to help recycling facility operators track and trace plastics composed of different additives or chemistries.

According to SMX, NAFRA and its members adhere to the International Council of Chemical Associations and the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC’s) Responsible Care program, which is the global chemical industry’s initiative to drive continuous improvement in safe chemicals management and to achieve excellence in environmental, health, safety and security performance.

The partnership with NAFRA, BSEF and their members is intended to demonstrate new scanning technology to more efficiently scan and separate plastics using a chemical-based hidden “barcode” system, SMX says, alongside a unique “reader” to identify these codes. The company says these codes will enable automated systems to identify plastics branded with the barcode and route them to the appropriate destination.

“For SMX, this is a great opportunity to be an enabler on the journey of transforming base chemical production from a linear model to a more sustainable model,” the company says. “This project is part of our belief that sustainability will be led by the industrial sector.”

The technology for this project has been developed by SMX, with funding provided by NAFRA and BSEF.

“This project has the potential to help support plastics recycling by improving inefficiencies, removing unnecessary steps and barriers and helping deliver the products to the right place more quickly," says Robert Simon of NAFRA and the ACC. "This means less time, energy and resources spent in the distribution chain, and that plastics are processed safely and effectively in line with our environmental sustainability goals.”