Unilever Partners with Alibaba Group to Launch AI-Powered Recycling System for Plastic Waste
The new partnership aims to transform China into a waste-free country.
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Multinational consumer goods giant Unilever announced that it has joined forces with Chinese Alibaba Group to launch an AI-driven recycling system for plastic waste in China. The ‘Waste Free World’ initiative is the first-of-its-kind closed-loop plastic recycling system. The new partnership aims to transform China into a waste-free country.
The new partnership will combine Unilever’s packaging technology and Alibaba’s business operating system. As part of it, AI-powered recycling vending machines will be installed across the country. Consumers can use Alipay- Alibaba’s e-wallet service to scan a QR code on the machine screen, which will open the doors of the machine and allow consumers to deposit their plastic waste. The customers would be awarded Unilvever coupons or green energy points in return.
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The intelligent system will sort the plastic waste based on their category. The sorted plastic waste will be transported to recycling facility, where it will be converted into plastic granules, to be used by Unilever in manufacturing new products.
The initiative is part of Unilever’s commitment to reduce use of virgin plastics by 50%. It aims for absolute reduction of 100,000 tons in plastic use by 2025.