Polytag announces single-use plastic packaging recycling scheme with high street giant Marks and Spencer as founding partner

Polytag has announced M&S as a founding member of its Ecotrace Programme, an initiative focused on the tracing and recycling of single-use plastic packaging in the UK.

This will deploy a network of Polytag’s Invisible UV Tag detection equipment in strategically chosen recycling centres that handle high volumes of waste.

FMCG brands, retailers, and waste management businesses are invited to get involved in the programme to unlock granular data on over 50% of the UK’s household waste recycling stream.

As a founding member of the programme, M&S, will gain real-time insights into where, when, and how much of its single-use plastic packaging is collected and sorted at recycling centres across the UK.

This data – at barcode level – will provide a verified benchmark for understanding recycling rates of its used plastic packaging.

As recycled PET plastic materials sustain high demand from FMCG brand owners, Polytag’s Invisible UV Tags are easily printed onto labels at production.

Once the packaging item enters the recycling stream at a recycling centre, a Polytag UV Tag Reader identifies the Invisible UV Tag. Detecting materials allows for accurate sorting and cleaner feedstock for UK sourced recycled PET packaging materials, the company says.

The industry is called to join the Polytag Ecotrace Programme, in which members will support the deployment of a nationwide Invisible UV Tag Reader network and get a subscription to the Polytag dashboard.

The online hub displays live lifecycle data on a brand’s plastic packaging materials as they enter the recycling stream, from consumer to recovery.

Alice Rackley, CEO at Polytag, which is included in the latest RTIH Retail Technology Innovations Report, says: “Currently, FMCG brands have no visibility of what happens to its single-use plastic once it has been put in the bin. As Extended Producer Responsibility Legislation comes into force, brands will need to take responsibility for packaging materials.”

“Not only does our Ecotrace Programme aim to solve this problem by bringing together leading players across the UK to capture barcode-level information on single-use plastic, but it stands as an example of what passion and collaboration paired with tangible action can do.”

“We would like to thank M&S for being the first partner to join our new initiative. Other businesses that are interested in joining the programme should get in touch and become part of this story, which is set to shake up the industry.”