Citeo and Polytag team up to deliver 100% visibility on single use plastic recycling at facility in France

Polytag and Citeo are laying claim to a major breakthrough for the recycling industry, detecting 100% of UV tagged single use plastic bottles entering one of Europe’s busiest materials recycling facilities (MRF) in France.

This follows the recent announcement that UK supermarket chain Waitrose & Partners has joined Biffa, Ocado Retail and Marks & Spencer in supporting Polytag’s Ecotrace programme.

Through the programme, Polytag’s plastic detection units (PDUs) have been installed in MRFs across the UK. This enables brands and retailers to UV tag their packaging and obtain real-time insights into the collection and sorting of single use plastic at recycling centres nationwide.

Citeo detected UV tags printed using food safe fluorescent ink applied directly on packaging labels using standard printing methods, including digital, flexographic solvent-based and UV cure inks.

During its collaboration with Polytag, Citeo was able to access barcode level data captured as UV tagged items entered the recycling stream and were detected by Polytag’s detection units. Companies applying UV tags to their packaging will be able to view their own unique data in real-time via the Polytag dashboard, providing a comprehensive view of each item’s journey through the recycling process.

Combining this barcode level data with Polytag’s on pack QR codes, which are powered by GS1 standards, will prepare brands and retailers for the switch from traditional stripy barcodes to QR codes, while also enabling them to tailor consumer marketing initiatives, create loyalty programmes and deliver engaging on pack instructions.

Alice Rackley, CEO at Polytag, comments: “Working with a global leader like Citeo and achieving a 100% detection rate in a MRF, operating at normal speed during active operating conditions, is a milestone moment for us, and the wider recycling industry. It demonstrates the undeniable effectiveness of our UV Tags for PET bottles in full scale facility conditions."

“Our UV Tags, combined with our advanced detection technology, provide an unprecedented level of insight through the supply chain, tagging and tracing every piece of packaging. In this way, Polytag technology empowers businesses to make informed decisions, to optimise their processes and to truly embrace circularity.”

A spokesperson from the Citeo innovation project team says: “Polytag has been selected as part of an innovation project. We want to explore the potential of marking technologies and their impact on sorting performance in live environments. These are the first results we’ve seen and they will enable us to project the use of this new kind of data in packaging sorting.”

2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

Green retail will be a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.

The awards, which are now open for entries, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our 2024 hall of fame entrants were revealed during an event which took place at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London on 21st November, and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by comedian Lucy Porter.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “The event is now into its sixth year and what a journey it has been. The awards started life as an online only affair during the Covid outbreak, before launching as a small scale in real life event and growing year on year to the point where we’re now selling out this fine, historic venue.”

He added: “Congratulations to all of our finalists. Many submissions did not make it through to the final stage, and getting to this point is no mean feat. Checkout-free stores, automated supply chains, immersive experiences, on-demand delivery, next generation loyalty offerings, inclusive retail, green technology. We’ve got all the cool stuff covered this evening.”

“But just importantly we’ve got lots of great examples of companies taking innovative tech and making it usable in everyday operations - resulting in more efficiency and profitability in all areas.”

Congratulations to our 2024 winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Lucy Porter, and all those who attended November's gathering. 

For further information on the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards, please fill in the below form and we will get back to you asap.