In this special episode of the Reloop Brief, we listen in on the Reloop Unpacks conference held in Brussels in June 2025. Clarissa Morawski moderates a fast-moving panel on how digital and AI tools are reshaping the way we track, sort, and return materials in a circular economy. Panellists include Weronika Czaplewska (COO & Co-Founder, Envirly), Stéphane Cren (Head of Innovation, GS1 France), Mark Roberts (Sustainability & Circular Economy Director, Amcor), and Wolfgang Trunk (European Commission).
The discussion dives into AI-enabled high-quality sorting, smart prompts that keep recyclables out of the black bag, and the trade-offs between “just enough tech” and tech overload.
The panel also explores digital deposit return systems (DDRS), from serialised QR codes on single-use packaging to tracking rotations for reusables, and their cost impacts for stakeholders across the value chain.
The conversation makes clear that there is a pressing need for clearer regulatory guidance and standardised methods to ensure data transparency and comparability across companies and regions.
Subscribe to the Reloop Brief on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.
Related resources
-
Digital deposit return systems: What you need to know
Overview of new digital elements that are included within the concept of digital deposit return systems (DDRS).
-
Mixed Waste Sorting to meet the EU’s Circular Economy Objectives
This report examines the potential role of “mixed waste sorting” (MWS) to complement separate collections of municipal waste in the EU.