--- title: "Flake Sorting: Elevating Plastic Recycling" id: "3776" type: "post" slug: "flake-sorting-elevating-plastic-recycling" published_at: "2024-03-06T20:52:09+00:00" modified_at: "2024-02-22T20:55:57+00:00" url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2024/03/flake-sorting-elevating-plastic-recycling-003776/" markdown_url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2024/03/flake-sorting-elevating-plastic-recycling-003776.md" excerpt: "Advanced flake sorting technologies are revolutionizing the recycling industry by enhancing the quality and efficiency of plastic recycling processes." taxonomy_category: - "Flexible Packaging" - "Food Packaging" - "Industry" - "Industry 4.0" - "Materials" - "Packaging" - "PET" - "Polyolefins" - "Recyclate" - "Recycling" - "Resins" - "Sustainability" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Flake Sorting" - "flakes" - "PET" - "plastic recycling" - "Poliolefins" - "TOMRA" --- [Home](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/) » [News](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/news/) » [Industry](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/c/industry/) » Flake Sorting: Elevating Plastic Recycling # Flake Sorting: Elevating Plastic Recycling This system is suitable for a variety of plastic sorting tasks, such as distinguishing between PET and PO flakes. ### **Advanced flake sorting technologies are revolutionizing the recycling industry by enhancing the quality and efficiency of plastic recycling processes.** Advanced flake sorting technologies are transforming the recycling industry by improving the quality and efficiency of plastic recycling processes. Leading this innovation, companies like [TOMRA](https://www.tomra.com/waste-metal-recycling/products/machines/autosort-flake) offer solutions that significantly enhance the sorting of plastic flakes, a vital step in recycling PET materials. These technologies utilize near-infrared (NIR) sensors, X-ray technology, and advanced software algorithms. They precisely identify and separate plastic flakes by type, color, and chemical composition, ensuring the quality of recycled plastics for high-value applications, including food-grade packaging. **You can also read:** [The Technology Behind Food-Grade rPET](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2024/02/the-technology-behind-food-grade-rpet-003313/) ## Sorting Optimization INNOSORT™ FLAKE emerges as the premier system for effectively purifying flakes based on polymer type, color, and clarity, addressing high-volume needs. Its adaptable setup is perfect for various plastic sorting tasks, enabling the segregation of PET and PO flakes into superior PP and PE fractions. This system excels in transforming mixed, contaminated plastics into valuable, pure recyclate materials demanded in the market. Achieving compliance with food-grade standards for post-consumer recycling through its advanced sensor and camera technology that removes undesired materials. Also, its powerful combination of advanced sensors and cameras instantly detects unwanted colors, foreign polymers, and materials like wood, rubber, and silicon. ## Improved recycling The impact of flake sorting technologies extends beyond improved recycling rates and material quality. They also support the circular economy by maximizing the value of recycled materials and reducing reliance on virgin resources. Furthermore, by enabling the efficient recycling of plastics, these technologies contribute to environmental conservation efforts, reducing the carbon footprint associated with plastic production and waste. It serves as a bottle-to-bottle recycling solution. As global demand for sustainable packaging solutions continues to rise, the role of advanced sorting technologies in meeting these needs becomes increasingly significant. Innovations like those developed by TOMRA not only meet the technical challenges of recycling but also align with broader environmental goals. By **[Juliana Montoya](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/jmontoyaplasticsengineering-org/)** | March 6, 2024 [https://www.plasticsengineering.org](https://www.plasticsengineering.org) ##### [Juliana Montoya](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/jmontoyaplasticsengineering-org/) [Website](https://www.plasticsengineering.org) | [+ postsBio ⮌](#) Juliana Montoya is Director of Content for Plastics Engineering. A mechanical engineer with an MSc in materials engineering, she has experience as a sustainability and packaging consultant focused on ecodesign and recycling. Her work centers on technical content for the plastics industry, connecting polymer innovation, manufacturing trends, and sustainability strategy for industry audiences. - Juliana Montoya [From PhD Research to ASTM Standard: Apoorva Kulkarni Advances Aquatic Biodegradation Testing](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/10/apoorva-kulkarni-astm-d8646-aquatic-biodegradation-012332/) - Juliana Montoya [In-Line Resin Monitoring Targets Recycled Resin Variability](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/09/in-line-resin-monitoring-targets-recycled-resin-variability-012269/) - Juliana Montoya [How PCR, PFAS Rules and EPR Are Reshaping Healthcare Foams](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/09/how-pcr-pfas-rules-and-epr-are-reshaping-healthcare-foams-012113/) - Juliana Montoya [2026 Injection Molding Summit Spotlights Metal 3D Printing](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/07/2026-injection-molding-summit-spotlights-metal-3d-printing-012006/) ### Other posts you could read [September 28, 2026Why Halogen-Free Flame Retardants Still Challenge Compounders](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/09/why-halogen-free-flame-retardants-still-challenge-compounders-012160/) [October 6, 2026From PhD Research to ASTM Standard: Apoorva Kulkarni Advances Aquatic Biodegradation Testing](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/10/apoorva-kulkarni-astm-d8646-aquatic-biodegradation-012332/) [September 10, 2026Plastics Logistics Evolves From Railcars to Intermodal Systems](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/09/plastics-logistics-evolves-from-railcars-to-intermodal-systems-012057/) [October 5, 2026SPE Microplastics Forum Will Bring Plastics Experts to Baltimore](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/10/spe-microplastics-forum-will-bring-plastics-experts-to-baltimore-012299/) [September 19, 2026AI Injection Molding Ecosystem: Smarter Together](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/09/ai-injection-molding-ecosystem-smarter-together-012191/) [October 9, 2026Liquid Crystal Film Reduces Ghost Images in Automotive Displays](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/10/liquid-crystal-film-reduces-ghost-images-in-automotive-displays-012245/) [October 2, 2026Better Plastic Recycling Starts With Better Collection](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/10/better-plastic-recycling-starts-with-better-collection-012229/) [September 11, 2026What Early Plastics Recovery Efforts Got Right and Wrong](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/09/what-early-plastics-recovery-efforts-got-right-and-wrong-012060/) ## Share Your Thoughts [Cancel reply](/2024/03/flake-sorting-elevating-plastic-recycling-003776/#respond) - [https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=3776&text=Flake+Sorting%3A+Elevating+Plastic+Recycling&via=Plastics_Mag](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=3776&text=Flake+Sorting%3A+Elevating+Plastic+Recycling&via=Plastics_Mag) - [https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=3776&t=Flake+Sorting%3A+Elevating+Plastic+Recycling](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=3776&t=Flake+Sorting%3A+Elevating+Plastic+Recycling) - [https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=3776&title=Flake%20Sorting:%20Elevating%20Plastic%20Recycling&summary=Advanced+flake+sorting+technologies+are+revolutionizing+the+recycling+industry+by+enhancing+the+quality+and+efficiency+of+plastic+recycling+processes.&source=Plastics+Engineering](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=3776&title=Flake%20Sorting:%20Elevating%20Plastic%20Recycling&summary=Advanced+flake+sorting+technologies+are+revolutionizing+the+recycling+industry+by+enhancing+the+quality+and+efficiency+of+plastic+recycling+processes.&source=Plastics+Engineering) - [https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=3776&title=Flake+Sorting%3A+Elevating+Plastic+Recycling](https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=3776&title=Flake+Sorting%3A+Elevating+Plastic+Recycling) - [/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e7d89492858d828493dab78b8694938e8494c7a289808e898282958e8980c7cac7a18b868c82c7b48895938e8980ddc7a28b829186938e8980c7b78b8694938e84c7b582849e848b8e8980c18588839eda8f93939794ddc8c8909090c9978b8694938e84948289808e898282958e8980c9889580c8d897dad4d0d0d1](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e7d89492858d828493dab78b8694938e8494c7a289808e898282958e8980c7cac7a18b868c82c7b48895938e8980ddc7a28b829186938e8980c7b78b8694938e84c7b582849e848b8e8980c18588839eda8f93939794ddc8c8909090c9978b8694938e84948289808e898282958e8980c9889580c8d897dad4d0d0d1) - [#comments](#comments)