Polytag has extended its Ecotrace Programme to Scotland by deploying ultraviolet (UV) tag detection technology at Wyllie Recycling’s plant in Perth, according to a press release posted on WhatTheyThink.
The deployment represents Polytag’s 15th UV detection unit, offering brands more detailed data on the route their packaging takes after consumers dispose of it.
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Polytag’s system identifies invisible UV tags applied to packaging as material passes through participating recycling sites.
It records barcode-level information on which tagged items are detected, as well as the location and timing of each detection.
Depending on the data embedded in the tag, the technology can also capture information such as plastic melt flow temperature, the packaging converter, and food-grade status.
The data collected through Polytag’s Ecotrace initiative can support assessments of packaging performance, packaging-design decisions, and the evidence base for recycling outcomes as the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility system develops.
Wyllie Recycling runs a 4.5-acre material recovery facility in Perth, which handles twin-stream kerbside recycling from several Scottish local authorities.
The site processes 15,000 tonnes of post-consumer plastic packaging annually.
According to Polytag, its inclusion in Ecotrace will give brands using UV-tagged packaging further insight into the recovery of their products in Scotland.
Polytag CEO Alice Rackley said: “Bringing Ecotrace to Scotland is an important step in building a clearer picture of what happens to packaging after use. Recycling doesn’t stop at the point a household puts its packaging out for collection, and we need better visibility of what happens next if we’re going to make meaningful progress towards a more circular economy.”
In February, Polytag, Saica Flex and Paragon partnered to supply packaging labels with invisible UV tags, enabling real-time environmental data collection for brands.
The collaboration combines Polytag’s detection technology, Saica Flex’s packaging production capabilities, and Paragon Inks’ UV ink formulations.
