Aldi and Arla Foods UK have launched an eight-week trial using ultraviolet (UV) tags to track milk bottles through the recycling system, FoodBev Media reports.
The pilot, in partnership with recycling technology provider Polytag, aims to give a clearer picture of how dairy packaging moves through the waste and recycling chain.
Invisible UV tags will be printed onto wrap-around labels applied to Arla’s milk bottles at its Oakthorpe dairy. The labels, made by Saica Flex, use a food-safe fluorescent ink developed by Sun Chemical.
At a materials recovery facility, Polytag’s detection units will scan the tags and record barcode-level data in real time, accessible to Aldi and Arla via Polytag’s online dashboard for insight into bottles’ recycling rates and journey.
The project builds on a 2023 trial by the three partners that used pressure-sensitive labels The new pilot uses wrap-around labels for greater durability and coverage.
«By integrating this advanced traceability technology into our packaging, we can gain deeper insights into the lifecycle of our materials», said Luke Emery, plastics and packaging director at Aldi UK.
«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», said Helena Delgado Nordmann, head of sustainability at Arla Foods UK.
Sun Chemical’s Stefaan D’hoore said the ink passed Recyclass Washing Quick Test procedures and EPBP Quicktest QT 507 with good results and does not impact recycled-polymer quality, calling it the first commercial use of Sun Chemical’s fluorescent ink with Polytag’s technology.
The data collected will be used to assess packaging performance and identify opportunities to improve recyclability and recycling rates.
Source: FoodBev Media
