Latest news with #NIR
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
How technology is transforming packaging waste recycling
Packaging waste is one of the fastest-growing environmental challenges worldwide. As consumption rises and e-commerce expands, so does the volume of packaging discarded daily. Effective packaging waste management technologies have become essential for reducing environmental harm, conserving resources, and supporting a circular economy. This article explores key innovations and approaches shaping the future of packaging waste management, helping readers understand how technology is transforming the way packaging waste is collected, processed, and reused. Innovative sorting and recycling systems One of the biggest hurdles in managing packaging waste is the complexity of materials involved. Packaging often combines paper, plastics, metals, and adhesives, making separation difficult. Advanced sorting technologies are critical in overcoming this challenge. Modern recycling centres increasingly employ automated sorting systems that use optical scanners, near-infrared (NIR) sensors, and artificial intelligence to identify and separate different types of packaging waste with remarkable accuracy. These technologies can distinguish between various plastics such as PET, HDPE, and polypropylene, and separate materials that were previously impossible to sort efficiently. Robotic arms equipped with machine learning algorithms further enhance sorting lines by recognising packaging shapes and materials, allowing for faster processing and higher purity of recycled materials. This not only improves recycling rates but also reduces contamination that can lower the quality of recycled products. Moreover, chemical recycling methods are gaining traction. Unlike traditional mechanical recycling, chemical recycling breaks down plastics to their molecular building blocks, enabling the production of new packaging materials with properties similar to virgin plastics. This technology can process mixed or contaminated packaging waste that is unsuitable for conventional recycling, broadening the range of waste that can be reclaimed. Biodegradable and compostable packaging solutions As awareness of the environmental impact of packaging waste grows, the development of biodegradable and compostable packaging has accelerated. These innovative materials are designed to break down naturally after use, reducing the burden on waste management systems. Biodegradable packaging is typically made from natural polymers such as starch, cellulose, or polylactic acid (PLA), which decompose under specific conditions. Compostable packaging goes a step further by breaking down completely into non-toxic substances in industrial composting facilities. While these materials offer promising alternatives to conventional plastics, their environmental benefits depend heavily on proper waste collection and disposal infrastructure. If biodegradable packaging ends up in landfill or littered environments, degradation may be slow or incomplete, negating intended advantages. Technologies supporting compostable packaging include smart labelling systems that inform consumers and waste handlers about the correct disposal routes. Digital markers and QR codes can indicate whether packaging is compostable, recyclable, or needs special treatment. This helps reduce contamination in recycling streams and ensures compostable waste reaches suitable facilities. The integration of biodegradable materials into packaging waste management systems highlights a growing trend towards designing packaging that fits seamlessly into circular waste processes, reducing landfill reliance. Waste-to-energy and circular economy integration Waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies offer a practical solution for managing packaging waste that cannot be recycled or composted. These systems convert waste materials into usable energy, such as electricity or heat, through processes like incineration, pyrolysis, and gasification. Modern WTE plants are designed to minimise harmful emissions and maximise energy recovery, providing a sustainable alternative to landfill disposal. By extracting value from residual packaging waste, these technologies reduce the volume of waste sent to landfill and support energy demands, especially in urban areas. At the same time, many companies and municipalities are embedding packaging waste management within broader circular economy frameworks. The circular economy aims to keep resources in use for as long as possible by designing products and packaging with reuse, repair, and recycling in mind. Digital tracking technologies, such as blockchain and IoT sensors, are being used to improve traceability and transparency throughout packaging supply chains. This ensures packaging waste is properly collected, sorted, and reintegrated into production cycles. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes are also playing a key role by requiring manufacturers to take financial or physical responsibility for the end-of-life management of their packaging. This incentivises the design of packaging that is easier to recycle and encourages investment in waste management technologies. Combining waste-to-energy with circular economy principles creates a multi-layered approach that reduces environmental impact, conserves raw materials, and supports sustainable packaging futures. Ultimately, future of packaging waste management lies in a combination of advanced sorting and recycling technologies, innovative biodegradable materials, and integrated waste-to-energy systems within circular economy frameworks. Together, these developments promise to make packaging waste less of a burden on the environment, turning a critical challenge into an opportunity for sustainable innovation. "How technology is transforming packaging waste recycling" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. 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France 24
16-07-2025
- Sport
- France 24
British Open: Five contenders to watch
Here, AFP Sport takes a look at five of the main contenders to win the 153rd edition of golf's oldest major: Scottie Scheffler (USA) World ranking: 1 British Open best: Tied seventh (2024) -- The world number one is the pre-tournament favourite after rediscovering the form that brought him a staggering nine titles last season. Scheffler has not finished outside the top 10 at any event since the Players Championship in March. He lifted his third major title with victory at the PGA Championship and has won two other PGA Tour events this year. His record at the British Open is weaker than at the other majors, but he showed signs of getting to grips with links golf last year at Troon, before a disappointing finish saw him end eight shots behind champion Xander Schauffele. Rory McIlroy (NIR) World ranking: 2 British Open best: Winner (2014) -- Hometown hero McIlroy is expected to make a strong challenge for his second British Open title after ending his 11-year wait for a fifth major title by completing the career Grand Slam at the Masters in April. McIlroy missed the cut the last time the tournament was held at Portrush in 2019 and will be desperate to make amends. He arrives in strong form following a second-place finish at last week's Scottish Open. Xander Schauffele (USA) World ranking: 3 British Open best: Winner (2024) -- Schauffele backed up his maiden major victory at last year's PGA Championship with a two-shot win at Royal Troon, but has struggled to find his best so far this season. But he managed just his second top-10 of 2025 in Scotland and will still be expecting to mount a strong title defence. Schauffele pulled away from a host of challengers 12 months ago with a brilliant, bogey-free final round of 65 to take the spoils. Bryson DeChambeau (USA) World ranking: 15 British Open best: Tied-eighth (2022) -- The big-hitting American has struggled previously at the British Open, missing the cut for the third time last year, but has otherwise been one of the most consistent players at the biggest events. He has finished in the top six in five of the last seven majors, winning his second US Open title in 2024. DeChambeau will be hoping to take advantage of any rain-softened conditions and boost his hopes of qualifying automatically for the US Ryder Cup team despite not gaining any points for LIV Golf events. Jon Rahm (ESP) World ranking: 72 British Open best: Tied-second (2023) -- Rahm has come close on several occasions to becoming the first Spanish winner since Seve Ballesteros won the last of his three titles in 1988. The 30-year-old, a former Masters and US Open champion, is in excellent form. He has two major top-10 finishes this season and his worst result in 10 LIV Golf events this year was a tie for 11th place in Dallas. © 2025 AFP
Canada News.Net
24-06-2025
- Science
- Canada News.Net
Canada's Inactive Oil and Gas Wells Emit 7x More Methane Than Reported: Study
Methane emissions from Canada's inactive oil and gas wells are up to seven times higher than government estimates, a new McGill study finds-with a relatively small number of high emitters responsible for most of the pollution. The study analyzes the methane footprints of sites with non-producing wells across Canada, focusing on emissions from two sources: above-ground wellhead equipment, and surface casing vents (SVCs)-pipes designed to prevent the buildup of pressure within a wellbore. These sites emit an average of 230 kilotonnes of emissions each year, estimate the researchers, far more than the 34 kilotonnes reported in the federal government's 2024 National Inventory Report (NIR). However, the study's statistical uncertainty indicates that the actual number could be anywhere between 51 to 560 kilotonnes annually. A few high-emitting wells dominate the emissions. "For example, one well can emit as much as 100 wells combined," study co-author Jade Boutot, a PhD student in civil engineering, told CBC News, adding that those wells should be prioritized for remediation. The McGill study's wellhead emission estimate is about half the federal estimate, but estimates for SVC emissions are 16 times greater than NIR figures. It showed lower uncertainty than the NIR for wellhead emissions estimates, but comparatively higher uncertainty for SVC emissions. View our latest digests Environment and Climate Change Canada said it is reviewing the research and may include it in a review of how it estimates methane emissions, reported CBC News. Methane emissions from non-producing wells are difficult to estimate accurately in Canada and elsewhere due to limited direct measurements and uncertainty about the exact number of wells. In Canada, non-producing wells make up more than 70% of the total number of oil and gas wells. But Canada's 2024 NIR -which covered data as recent as 2022-reports 409,319 inactive wells, 15% fewer than the 471,276 wells the researchers counted. "Our well count is unlikely to be an overestimate, as it corresponds to the wells in government databases with unique identifiers," write the researchers. The most recent NIR released in 2025 using data from 2023, placed the total number of abandoned oil and gas wells at approximately 423,000. The McGill study reassesses the scale of emissions from these non-producing wells based on a dataset of methane flow-rate measurements for 494 of them. The dataset covers five provinces-Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec-using publicly available provincial and territorial data that includes 105 previously unmeasured wells. The authors say the dataset is "the largest measurement database using a consistent methodology." Researchers collected data about well attributes that include geographic location, well status, and other specifications. They also took 678 measurements across the sites in the dataset to directly quantify flow rate with a static-chamber methodology, which measures gas accumulation in an enclosed area over time. They acknowledge that, given the study's small sample size, "emission estimates remain highly uncertain." Alberta had the highest methane flow rates for both wellheads and SVCs. Saskatchewan's wellheads showed a comparable rate, but measurements for SVCs were markedly lower there. The distribution of both wellhead and SCV methane flow rates was skewed by large emitters, with 98% of emissions coming from only the top 12% of wellheads and the top 2.1% of SVCs.
Canada Standard
24-06-2025
- Science
- Canada Standard
Canada's Inactive Oil and Gas Wells Emit 7x More Methane Than Reported: Study
Methane emissions from Canada's inactive oil and gas wells are up to seven times higher than government estimates, a new McGill study finds-with a relatively small number of high emitters responsible for most of the pollution. The study analyzes the methane footprints of sites with non-producing wells across Canada, focusing on emissions from two sources: above-ground wellhead equipment, and surface casing vents (SVCs)-pipes designed to prevent the buildup of pressure within a wellbore. These sites emit an average of 230 kilotonnes of emissions each year, estimate the researchers, far more than the 34 kilotonnes reported in the federal government's 2024 National Inventory Report (NIR). However, the study's statistical uncertainty indicates that the actual number could be anywhere between 51 to 560 kilotonnes annually. A few high-emitting wells dominate the emissions. "For example, one well can emit as much as 100 wells combined," study co-author Jade Boutot, a PhD student in civil engineering, told CBC News, adding that those wells should be prioritized for remediation. The McGill study's wellhead emission estimate is about half the federal estimate, but estimates for SVC emissions are 16 times greater than NIR figures. It showed lower uncertainty than the NIR for wellhead emissions estimates, but comparatively higher uncertainty for SVC emissions. View our latest digests Environment and Climate Change Canada said it is reviewing the research and may include it in a review of how it estimates methane emissions, reported CBC News. Methane emissions from non-producing wells are difficult to estimate accurately in Canada and elsewhere due to limited direct measurements and uncertainty about the exact number of wells. In Canada, non-producing wells make up more than 70% of the total number of oil and gas wells. But Canada's 2024 NIR-which covered data as recent as 2022-reports 409,319 inactive wells, 15% fewer than the 471,276 wells the researchers counted. "Our well count is unlikely to be an overestimate, as it corresponds to the wells in government databases with unique identifiers," write the researchers. The most recent NIR released in 2025 using data from 2023, placed the total number of abandoned oil and gas wells at approximately 423,000. The McGill study reassesses the scale of emissions from these non-producing wells based on a dataset of methane flow-rate measurements for 494 of them. The dataset covers five provinces-Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec-using publicly available provincial and territorial data that includes 105 previously unmeasured wells. The authors say the dataset is "the largest measurement database using a consistent methodology." Researchers collected data about well attributes that include geographic location, well status, and other specifications. They also took 678 measurements across the sites in the dataset to directly quantify flow rate with a static-chamber methodology, which measures gas accumulation in an enclosed area over time. They acknowledge that, given the study's small sample size, "emission estimates remain highly uncertain." Alberta had the highest methane flow rates for both wellheads and SVCs. Saskatchewan's wellheads showed a comparable rate, but measurements for SVCs were markedly lower there. The distribution of both wellhead and SCV methane flow rates was skewed by large emitters, with 98% of emissions coming from only the top 12% of wellheads and the top 2.1% of SVCs. Source: The Energy Mix
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
REDYSIGN fresh meat packaging project hits milestone
The REDYSIGN project, a collaborative initiative aimed at developing circular, fibre-based packaging (FBP) for fresh meat, has achieved a significant milestone to improve traceability in the sector. The project's second key phase focuses on integrating identification markers and digital sorting technologies to enhance the sorting of biocontaminated fresh meat packaging. The integration of specific identification markers into each component of fresh meat packaging is one of the core technologies of the REDYSIGN project. The markers include the tray, absorbent pad, and lidding film, facilitating accurate sorting and optimising sanitation treatments. Over the project's first 18 months, partners Fábrica Nacional de la Moneda y Timbre-Real Casa de la Moneda (FNMT), Tecnalia, and PACKBENEFIT developed detection systems for both these traceability markers and pollutants. They have employed advanced sensors and imaging technologies such as RAMAN, NIR, and RGB to identify organic contaminants in absorbent pads and integrate specific markers. A notable achievement is the RAMAN marker developed by FNMT and its successful incorporation into trays thermoformed by PACKBENEFIT. Tecnalia's tests in both static and dynamic conditions have demonstrated the marker's detection efficiency, validating its potential for effective FBP sorting and recycling. The project has utilised RAMAN spectroscopy to provide chemical and structural information about the packaging materials while near-infrared technology has been used to evaluate organic components. The combination of machine vision and spectroscopy has led to the creation of AI models that can visually delineate contaminated surfaces and correlate visual data with chemical composition. Tecnalia's research has shown the effectiveness of spectroscopic sensors in detecting contaminants on food tray pads. The project's next steps will involve adjusting the maximum movement speed at which the sample moves along the surface, further enhancing the technology's industrial applicability. The project is funded by CBE JU and coordinated by Tecnalia. "REDYSIGN fresh meat packaging project hits milestone" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
