Product Scanner

Co-developed with Kolding, Randers, Thisted, Viborg, Fredericia and Nordfyn

Activate digital sorting instructions

Solution: recycling without confusion

TheNewSort solution enables citizens and consumers to sort used packaging correctly, no matter in which municipality they are located.

The citizen receives accurate and easy to understand sorting instructions by scanning the barcode on a packaging with a smartphone app.

Status of the Product Scanner

Approval of sufficient producer data

We are in a continuous dialogue with brands, retailers, national organisations and data-providers to secure official data directly from the packaging-producers to ensure correct sorting instructions.

With the upcoming Extended producer responsibility (EPR) and a strong pull from sustainability-conscious consumers, we aim to reactivate PictoScan as soon as we can assure a high success rate of scanned products.

Video: Functionality in municipality App "Affald Randers"

Duration 0:17

PILOT test

Scanning functionality tested for 6 weeks with over 10.000 Users

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After 1 1/2 years of preparation, TheNewSort's solution to improve waste sorting was ready to be tested in a pilot project with six Danish municipalities: Fredericia, Kolding, Nordfyn, Rander, Thisted and Revas (Viborg Municipality), together with Orkla Denmark who included official product-data of their brands.

The functionality was included in the existing Apps for waste-services in the municipalities, which are used by many citizens.

During the pilot test, technical aspects and user friendliness of the service have been tested between the 15th of August until the 30th of September 2022.

The project was funded by Innovationsfonden and supported by CIRKULÆR (former Dansk Affaldsforening) and Miljøstyrelsen, who secured the correct use of the new Waste-Pictogram system and application of national guidelines for waste sorting.

Download the report (pdf)

Your role - Your benefits

Municipalities

Local
sorting

Increase recycling quality

Engage citizens to sort better

Develop a national solution

Producers

Packaging
information

‍Trustworthy communication

Act on CSR claims

Enable sustainable action

You

Sustainable
action

Want to sort waste correctly

Demand product transparency

Prefer sustainable products

Products & packaging

Groceries are an important part of our everyday life. We like to buy products that taste good and look appealing. A high variety of packaging materials are used to keep each product fresh and safe, protect it during transportation and storage, and make it stand out amongst its competitors on the shelf. At the end of the product-use, the packaging no longer serves a purpose for the consumer, but the material of the packaging still has value.

Each product that is sold in a supermarket is identified by a unique barcode. This barcode holds detailed information from the producer and can be connected to additional information about the product and the packaging.

Correct sorting

Most citizens actively sort different materials, product-packagings or leftovers into multiple fractions. This is a very important activity that contributes to a more sustainable society and a circular economy.

Unfortunately, correct sorting is a difficult task. Two reasons that make sorting for a consumer even more difficult are regional waste-handling processes that are connected to different sorting-guidelines and the challenge to correctly identify a specific material.

These and many more factors often result in wrong sorting and thereby in a decrease of value and recyclability of a whole waste-stream.

Transparent information = sustainable action

TheNewSort provides a common solution that makes correct sorting fast and simple, supports behavior with a positive impact and thereby contributes to a more sustainable future.

We believe that all of our actions demand transparent information and correct interpretation. We value each individual action and try to improve the impact of correct sorting by breaking down complexity and bridging over information gaps. We aim to provide clear and correct sorting instructions for everybody everywhere in Denmark and make “recycling without confusion” our reality.

“This service guides our citizens to sort their waste correctly.”

Andrew s.

Kolding Kommune

“WE REALISED PRETTY QUICKLY THAT THE INFORM TEAM WERE TOP NOTCH.”

JAMES G.

London, UK

“THE TEAM ARE GREAT, THE PRODUCT IS EVEN BETTER. WE LOVE INFORM.”

BELLA R.