The solution for sortable plastics

Granula® Masterbatch black NIR

The most common method for sorting recycled plastics is detection using near-infrared technology (NIR sensors). In this way, even black shredded plastic can be reliably sorted out by type.

The problem: in sorting, it is common that plastics containing carbon black (the most economical variant for black) hardly reflect in the entire wave range from UV to IR, so that they cannot be sorted out with the usual sensors in the recycling stream and must ultimately be disposed of as a residual mixture.

The solution: Granula® black NIR masterbatches, which enable full NIR detection when used in plastics. However, common alternative solutions are either not certified for food contact (EU, FDA, China) or are not really black, have poor coverage and weak colors. Also, plastics colored with these cannot be sorted 100% or since they can be magnetic, these prevent proper metal detection in packaged food.