ReBoat Research Spotlight: POLIMI Paper Presented at IEEE WHISPERS / 12-14 November 2025

ReBoat is proud to highlight a recent scientific contribution from our partner at Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI). Marco Papetti presented the paper titled “Combined Masking Strategies for the Identification of Black Plastic Samples through Mid-Wavelength Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging” at the 15th Workshop on Hyperspectral Image and Signal Processing : Evolution in Remote Sensing, held in Bellaterra, Spain, from 12–14 November 2025.

Black plastics are notoriously difficult to detect and sort with conventional NIR systems — a key barrier to effective recycling. This work explores how MWIR hyperspectral imaging, combined with a dual masking strategy, enables accurate spatial identification and classification of black plastic samples using only spectral data. The results demonstrate robust pixel-wise detection even for small objects, highlighting strong potential for advanced in-line sorting and circular material recovery — fully aligned with ReBoat’s vision for smarter resource management. 

We are pleased to see ReBoat partners contributing cutting-edge research at leading international scientific forums. Such advancements reinforce our collective commitment to developing innovative solutions that enable more efficient and sustainable circular systems.

Learn more about the workshop here !