Aldi, Arla and recycling technology company Polytag have started an operational trial to follow milk bottle packaging through the recycling system using UV-based tags.
The trial expands on work carried out in 2023 and is aimed at improving traceability for packaging and understanding how milk bottle containers pass through recycling.
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Aldi UK plastics and packaging director Luke Emery said: “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 life cycle of our materials.”
The project uses a specially developed ink from Sun Chemical on wrap-around labels to collect recycling information.
At Arla’s Oakthorpe site, UV-tagged labels are being added to the cooperative’s milk bottle range as part of the next stage of the work.
Arla Foods UK sustainability head Helena Delgado Nordmann said: “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.”
The Saica Flex-printed labels aim to allow packaging to be tracked in real time as it moves through the recycling stream.
This is expected to give data on recycling rates and the route taken by dairy packaging.
In contrast with the 2023 trial, which relied on pressure-sensitive labels, the current version uses wrap-around labels for broader coverage and greater resistance during handling.
Once the tagged packaging reaches the recycling stream, Polytag’s plastic detection units at materials recovery facilities (MRFs) record barcode-level information in real time.
That data can then be viewed through the Polytag dashboard, giving brands and retailers a way to monitor packaging through the recycling process.
Polytag recently recorded a 100% detection rate in work with packaging compliance organisation Citeo at a busy MRF in France.
The companies said the information gathered through UV-tagging is an early step towards mapping the life cycle of packaging with real-world data, with the intention of helping brands assess progress against sustainability goals and make decisions about recyclability and recycling results.
Polytag CEO Alice Rackley said: “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.”
