FiliGrade
FiliGrade Sustainable Watermarks licenses CurvCode, a digital watermark technology embedded in plastic and fiber-based packaging to enable mechanical sorting by material, colour, layer, and food contact, serving brand owners, packaging converters, and waste sorters in the EU.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersTwello, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What FiliGrade does
FiliGrade Sustainable Watermarks B.V. is a privately held Dutch technology company founded in 2014 and headquartered in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. It develops and licenses CurvCode, a digital watermark technology embedded directly into plastic, fiber-based, and flexible packaging to enable mechanical waste sorting by material type, colour, layer composition, and food-versus-non-food classification. The platform comprises two encoding methods, 3D embossed codes integrated during moulding (injection moulding, thermoforming, blow moulding) and 2D printed codes applied across rotogravure, flexo, offset, and digital printing, plus a low-cost reading system built on monochrome USB cameras, LED lighting, and standard PC hardware that uses 1024 predefined sorting codes without a database.
FiliGrade operates as a B2B licensing business, monetising CurvCode via technology licences to participants across the plastic value chain (brand owners, packaging converters, and sorting equipment manufacturers), with brand-owner fees structured to be limited and offset by reduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) costs. The go-to-market is coalition- and partnership-driven, anchored by Coalition 2.0 Food2Food (30+ supply chain partners), the HolyGrail 2.0 initiative, Horizon 2020 projects SOLREC-2 and CIMPA, and joint development with sorting OEM Pellenc ST and packaging converters including ALPLA and MULTIVAC. In November 2025, the technology reached Technology Readiness Level 7 following semi-industrial sorting trials on HDPE milk containers at industrial standard speed.
The company's core commercial applications target the EU regulatory push for high-quality food-to-food plastic recycling: current NIR-based sorting cannot reliably distinguish food-contact from non-food-contact packaging or detect black and multilayer packaging, causing large volumes of technically recyclable material to be incinerated. CurvCode is positioned as a complementary layer to NIR (and to AI-assisted sorting) that unlocks EFSA-compliant recycled content and lower EPR fees for adopters. Named enterprise customers and partners include Unilever, FarmDairy, ALPLA, MULTIVAC, Bond Seafood, Terbeke, Pellenc ST, FrieslandCampina, and Jumbo.
FiliGrade firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FiliGrade
- Legal name
- FiliGrade Sustainable Watermarks B.V.
- Website
- https://curvcode.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- FiliGrade Sustainable Watermarks licenses CurvCode, a digital watermark technology embedded in plastic and fiber-based packaging to enable mechanical sorting by material, colour, layer, and food contact, serving brand owners, packaging converters, and waste sorters in the EU.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FiliGrade industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Recycling Technology
- akta.pro primary industry
- Advanced/Optical Sorting & Quality Control Services (NIR, AI, Robotics) (BPALADAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Plastic Recycling Equipment & Technology Providers (Sorting, Washing, Extrusion) (EUAIAKAM), Packaging Waste Sorting & Recycling Technologies (Mechanical/Chemical Recycling, Sorting Systems) (IMALAMAL)
Keywords
Where FiliGrade is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Twello
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
FiliGrade business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Technology Licensing: FiliGrade licenses CurvCode technology to participants in the plastic value-chain. License fees are agreed based on specific value-chain considerations. Limited fee for brand owners only with the advantage of reduced EPR fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing/ royalties | Multi-year contract | Brand owner licensing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
FiliGrade product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FiliGrade develops and licenses CurvCode, a single-purpose digital watermark technology embedded in plastic and fiber-based packaging to enable mechanical waste sorting. CurvCode supports 1,024 sorting codes that classify packaging by material, colour, layer type, and food vs. non-food vs. hazardous materials, and is read by low-cost monochrome-camera detection systems. The technology is licensed to brand owners, packaging producers/converters, and waste-sorting-equipment manufacturers across the plastic value chain.
Product overview
FiliGrade Sustainable Watermarks offers CurvCode, a digital watermark technology platform designed specifically for mechanical waste sorting. The platform consists of two encoding methods: 3D Embossed watermarks (embedded during moulding processes) and 2D Printed watermarks (embedded in printed surfaces). Both methods enable sorting on material type, colour, layer type, and food vs. non-food classification. The company also provides a CurvCode Reading System (hardware for detection) and licenses the technology to participants in the plastic value-chain. CurvCode works alongside existing NIR technology and can be combined with AI for enhanced sorting capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CurvCode Digital Watermark Technology CurvCode is a PCT-patented digital watermark technology embedded in plastic and fiber-based packaging (via 3D embossing in moulds or 2D printing on surfaces) that enables mechanical waste sorting on material, colour, layer type, and food vs. non-food vs. hazardous classification. It is licensed to brand owners, packaging producers/converters, and waste sorting equipment manufacturers across the European plastic value chain.
- CurvCode Reading System Detection hardware for CurvCode watermarks comprising monochrome USB cameras (60 fps), single LED light source, and minimal PC power. Designed for low-cost integration into existing waste sorting stations to reliably detect watermarks under challenging waste-handling conditions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 40% of consumer waste volume is food packaging that cannot be recycled to food standard except for PET bottles
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use FiliGrade
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
FiliGrade technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature5 records
FiliGrade partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- HolyGrail 2.0 Initiative (AIM - European Brands Association)coreCollaborative project to test CurvCode watermarking technology for closing the loop on HDPE milk bottles in the Netherlands. HolyGrail 2.0, powered by the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, provides oversight and support for semi-industrial sorting trials.
- Pellenc STcoreMachine supplier providing sorting equipment for semi-industrial trials. Developed joint prototype machine combining CurvCode digital watermarking and NIR technology with FiliGrade.
- ALPLAcoreHDPE milk container producer for Dutch private-label supplier FarmDairy. Produced containers coded with CurvCode digital watermarks for sorting trials.
- Coalition 2.0 Food2FoodcoreOver 30 supply chain partners including Avery Dennison, Bordex Packaging, FrieslandCampina, Jumbo, Unilever, Veolia, Wageningen University & Research committed to circular use of plastic food packaging. Focus on industrial testing and business case finalization for CurvCode technology.
- MULTIVACmajorSpecialist in packaging, processing, labeling and quality control solutions. Collaborated with FiliGrade and Bond Seafood on first plastic tray with CurvCode for Dutch supermarkets.
- Bond SeafoodmajorFish producer implementing first CurvCode tray in Netherlands. Switched to fully mono PET material for all packaging and collaborated on recycled PET fish packaging now on retail shelves.
- Horizon 2020 SOLREC-2coreFiliGrade is THE INNOVATION partner for the Horizon 2020 project SOLREC-2, a European Commission research initiative.
- Horizon 2020 CIMPAcoreFiliGrade is THE INNOVATION partner for the Horizon 2020 project CIMPA (Circular Multilayer Plastic Approach). Project addresses 2.6Mt of multilayer film waste incinerated or landfilled annually.
- Plastic Pact NLcoreNational initiative that identified CurvCode as a promising technology for efficient plastic separation from waste streams.
- PetCore EuropecoreIndustry association where FiliGrade's digital watermark technology was first recognized as potential HolyGrail solution for plastic sorting.
- TNO-Brightlands Material CentermajorResearch institution participating in Coalition 2.0 Food2Food, providing technical expertise for CurvCode validation under industrial conditions.
- Wageningen University & ResearchmajorAcademic research partner in Coalition 2.0 Food2Food focusing on circular plastic economy and food safety requirements.
- Het Versnellingshuis (Acceleration House)corePartnership of VNO-NCW, MKB-Nederland, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, MVO Nederland and Het Groene Brein supporting Coalition 2.0 Food2Food as one of 5 national Moonshot breakthrough projects.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
FiliGrade competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Digimarc: Digital watermarking company that has been a parallel participant in the HolyGrail digital watermark initiative for plastic sorting. Closest direct competitor to CurvCode, addressing the same 'watermark on packaging for sorting' use case with its own proprietary technology.
- Pellenc ST: Sorting equipment OEM partnered with FiliGrade on the CurvCode + NIR prototype and HDPE milk container trials. Directly comparable as a sensor-based sorting technology provider serving MRFs and plastic recyclers across Europe.
Emerging players
- ALPLA: Global plastics packaging producer and a named FiliGrade partner (HDPE milk containers with CurvCode). Comparable as both a customer/partner and a potential rival platform should ALPLA internalise watermark technology.
- Avery Dennison: Label and materials science company participating in Coalition 2.0 Food2Food with at-a-distance overlap via smart/connected packaging and recycling enablement. Comparable as a potential licensee for embedding codes via labels and packaging materials.
- Veolia: Global environmental services and recycling operator that is a Coalition 2.0 Food2Food partner. Comparable as a potential end-customer / channel for CurvCode-enabled sorting at scale rather than a direct technology competitor.
Broad incumbents
- Tomra: Global leader in sensor-based sorting equipment for recycling and waste management, with a large installed NIR base. Competes with CurvCode at the sorting-facility level and could integrate or bypass watermark-based sorting in its roadmap.
- STEINERT: German-based provider of magnetic, sensor, and NIR-based sorting solutions for the recycling industry. Comparable broad incumbent whose equipment decisions shape adoption of complementary technologies like CurvCode.
Regional players
- SUEZ (recycling & recovery): European environmental services and recycling operator with extensive sorting infrastructure. Comparable as a potential large-volume adopter/channel for CurvCode in Western Europe, particularly France, rather than as a watermark technology competitor.
Market position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
FiliGrade social profiles
Digital presenceFiliGrade financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FiliGrade leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
FiliGrade funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FiliGrade M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FiliGrade
What does FiliGrade do?
FiliGrade develops and licenses CurvCode, a single-purpose digital watermark technology embedded in plastic and fiber-based packaging to enable mechanical waste sorting. CurvCode supports 1,024 sorting codes that classify packaging by material, colour, layer type, and food vs. non-food vs. hazardous materials, and is read by low-cost monochrome-camera detection systems. The technology is licensed to brand owners, packaging producers/converters, and waste-sorting-equipment manufacturers across the plastic value chain.
Is FiliGrade a public or private company?
FiliGrade is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was FiliGrade founded?
FiliGrade was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is FiliGrade based?
FiliGrade is headquartered in Twello, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does FiliGrade make money?
One revenue line is on record: technology Licensing.
Who are FiliGrade's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Digimarc and Pellenc ST. Emerging players are ALPLA, Avery Dennison and Veolia. Broad incumbents are Tomra and STEINERT. SUEZ (recycling & recovery) is listed as a regional player.
Does FiliGrade have an API?
No public API is recorded for FiliGrade.
What industry is FiliGrade in?
FiliGrade's product category is Recycling Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPALADAH, Advanced/Optical Sorting & Quality Control Services (NIR, AI, Robotics), with a secondary code of EUAIAKAM, Plastic Recycling Equipment & Technology Providers (Sorting, Washing, Extrusion).