Smart Tags and Recyclability Product Guide

This document is a product guide that details a study conducted by Smurfit Westrock in collaboration with Western Michigan University (WMU) regarding the recyclability of corrugated boxes with smart labels used for asset tracking. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of various smart labels, including RFID and Bluetooth technologies, on the recycling process of corrugated packaging. The results indicated that the smart labels did not significantly affect the recyclability of the boxes, as repulpability and processing were not impacted. The study utilized a pilot plant scale recycling process to assess the technical recycling of boxes tagged with smart labels. It included a comparison with untagged boxes as a control. The findings suggest that while smart labels separated from the fiber during recycling, they did not trigger metal detection systems in the resulting paper samples. The document also discusses limitations of the study and suggests further research to explore real-condition environmental tests.