A UK supermarket and a leading dairy cooperative have joined forces with a recycling technology platform to launch an innovative pilot project. Aldi and Arla are collaborating with Polytag to track milk bottle packaging through the recycling process using UV-tagging technology. This initiative aims to provide comprehensive recycling data and improve packaging traceability.
The pilot project utilizes Sun Chemical’s specially developed ink on wrap-around labels, printed by Saica Flex. These labels support real-time tracking of packaging as it moves through the recycling stream, offering valuable insights into recycling rates and the journey of dairy packaging.
Aldi and Arla’s commitment to sustainability
Aldi and Arla have long been committed to sustainability and improving the recyclability of their packaging. This pilot project is a significant step forward in their efforts to understand how milk bottle packaging moves through the recycling system. By gaining a better understanding of this process, they hope to make data-informed decisions that will improve recyclability and recycling performance.
Luke Emery, plastics and packaging director at Aldi UK, comments on the importance of this project: “This next phase with Polytag represents a 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.”
The role of UV-tagging technology
The UV-tagging technology used in this pilot project involves printing invisible UV tags directly onto packaging labels using food-safe fluorescent ink. This ink has undergone extensive safety and recycling testing to ensure it does not impact the quality of the recycled polymers. The ink is applied using standard printing methods, making it a low-cost, easy-to-integrate solution that does not impact production speed.
Polytag’s Plastic Detection Units, installed at Materials Recovery Facilities, capture barcode-level data in real-time after tagged packaging enters the recycling stream. This information is accessible via the Polytag dashboard, providing brands with comprehensive recycling insights.
Sun Chemical’s innovative ink technology
Sun Chemical’s proprietary fluorescent ink technology has been tested against Recyclass’s Washing Quick Test Procedures and the European PET Bottle Platform Quicktest QT 507 with good results. The ink has been approved for use on labels designed to be optimally detected by Polytag’s ink-agnostic detection units. Stefaan D’hoore, director of Business Development, Specialty Ink, and Coatings at Sun Chemical, highlights the significance of this collaboration: “This deployment marks a 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.”
Enhancing packaging traceability
The data captured through UV-tagging represents a first step toward mapping the lifecycle of product packaging. It aims to help brands measure progress against sustainability targets and identify opportunities for improving recyclability and recycling performance. Helena Delgado Nordmann, head of sustainability at Arla Foods UK, shares her thoughts on the project: “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.”
Alice Rackley, CEO at Polytag, emphasizes the scalability and reliability of the UV-tagging solution: “This next phase 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.”
