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 DRS, from serialised QR codes on single-use packaging to tracking rotations for reusables, and discusses 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.