Aldi and Arla Foods have launched a new pilot with recycling technology company Polytag to track milk bottle packaging through the recycling process using UV-tagging technology.
The eight-week trial builds on a collaboration first launched in 2023 and aims to provide greater visibility into how milk bottle packaging moves through the recycling system. The project uses specially developed fluorescent ink from Sun Chemical on wrap-around labels, enabling real-time tracking of packaging as it passes through the recycling stream.
UV-tagged labels are being applied to Arla’s milk bottle range at its Oakthorpe site, with data captured by Polytag’s Plastic Detection Units installed at Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs). The information is then made available through Polytag’s dashboard, allowing brands and retailers to better understand recycling rates and packaging journeys.
“This next phase with Polytag represents an exciting step forward in how we use data to drive our sustainability strategy,” said Luke Emery, Plastics and Packaging Director at Aldi UK. “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: “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.”
“This next phase deployment with Aldi and Arla milk bottle labels demonstrates the scalability and reliability of the UV-tagging solution,” said Alice Rackley, CEO of Polytag. “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.”
The pilot is intended to help the companies generate verified recycling data, supporting efforts to improve packaging traceability, recyclability and circularity.
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