It’s no secret that we’ve got a plastic problem in our oceans. Despite significant recycling efforts and infrastructure, more and more plastic bottles and microplastics keep ending up there. The reality is that less than 6% of plastic bottles are currently recycled back into bottles. What a waste of effort!  So, what’s causing this giant gap between effort and impact? Well, in part, the labels! Those wrap-around bottle labels you see on your water bottle or any other beverage in a plastic container aren’t recycling-friendly. 

Who & What

The company Magnomer came up with a solution that harnesses magnetism and takes advantage of the existing magnetic separators in recycling plants. Their design plan, called Design2Plan, uses magnetizable ink that can be printed on labels without changing their appearance or compliance with food and beverage regulations. When those plastic bottles that use magnetizable ink move through a recycling plant on a conveyor belt, they’re chopped up into tiny pieces, labels and all. Then, those plastic bits with label attached pass underneath the magnetic separator already in place to prevent ferrous metals from getting mixed in.  It’s a uniquely non-disruptive invention that works with existing equipment, including the label makers involved in the manufacturing phase of the water bottle’s life cycle. 

Apex Magnets

We write about magnets, hoping we can inspire you to use and benefit from them! Is it working? If we’ve inspired an idea, but you can’t quite bring all the pieces together in your mind, give us a call at 1-304-257-1193. We can talk through the ins and outs of our different products and how they might be best suited for your unique plan.