Supermarket chain Aldi, dairy cooperative Arla, and tech company Polytag are working together on an eight-week trial, in which milk bottle packaging will be tracked through the recycling process.
Using Polytag’s UV-tagging technology, the trial aims to chart the lifecycle of product packaging with real data. Ultimately, the aim of using this technology is for brands and retailers to measure packaging recycling progress against their wider sustainability targets and ensure they are making data-informed decisions to identify opportunities where performance can be improved.
This latest pilot programme builds on a 2023 collaboration, with the brands still working to improve packaging traceability and to better understand how milk bottle packaging moves through the recycling system. This project uses Sun Chemical’s specially developed ink on wraparound packaging labels to provide what Polytag describes as “comprehensive recycling data”.
The UV-tagged labels are applied to Arla’s milk bottle range at its Oakthorpe site. The labels, printed by Saica Flex, will enable real-time tracking of packaging as it moves through the recycling stream.
Luke Emery, plastics & packaging director at Aldi UK, commented: “This next phase with Polytag represents an exciting step forward in how we use data to drive our sustainability strategy.
“By integrating this advanced traceability technology into our packaging, we can gain deeper insights into the lifecycle of our materials.”
Helena Delgado Nordmann, head of sustainability at Arla Foods UK, added: “As Europe’s largest dairy cooperative, Arla is committed to understanding how our packaging performs beyond point of sale.
“By working with Polytag, we hope to gain valuable insight into how milk bottle packaging moves through the recycling system, helping us to make more informed decisions about future packaging developments and supporting our ongoing efforts to improve packaging circularity.”
Stefaan D’hoore, director of business development, specialty inks & coatings at Sun Chemical, continued: “This deployment marks an exciting milestone as the first commercial use of Sun Chemical’s fluorescent ink with Polytag’s technology, demonstrating how collaboration across the packaging value chain can support greater transparency and help accelerate the transition to a more circular economy.”
D’hoore also noted the ink has been tested against Recyclass’ Washing Quick Test Procedures and EPBP Quicktest QT 507 “with good results”. He explained the ink has also been approved for use on labels designed to be optimally detected by Polytag’s ink-agnostic detection units, helping generate data without impacting the quality of the recycled polymers.
How does the UV technology work?
- Invisible UV tags are printed directly onto packaging labels using food-safe fluorescent ink that has undergone rigorous safety and recycling testing
- The ink is applied using standard printing methods, making it a low-cost and an option that doesn’t impact production speed. Unlike the 2023 trial, which used pressure-sensitive labels, this iteration employs wraparound labels, providing enhanced durability and coverage
- When tagged packaging enters the recycling stream, Polytag’s plastic detection units installed at materials recovery facilities capture barcode-level data in real-time
- Information captured is accessible via the Polytag dashboard, providing brands and retailers with detailed visibility of their packaging’s journey through the recycling process.
Alice Rackley, CEO, Polytag, said: “This next phase of deployment with Aldi and Arla milk bottle labels demonstrates the scalability and reliability of the UV-tagging solution.
“It’s been a pleasure working with Saica Flex to deliver this latest stage of the project, demonstrating the value of collaboration in bringing innovative packaging solutions to market. This represents continued progress in packaging design, offering brands a seamless, cost-effective path to comprehensive recycling insights.”
Read more about Polytag on Green Retail World
[image credit: Polytag]
