Aldi and Arla deploy Polytag UV tags to track milk bottle recycling
Aldi and Arla have entered a new phase of work with UK traceability firm Polytag, applying UV-tagged labels to Arla's milk bottle range produced at its Oakthorpe site to track packaging through the recycling stream. The labels are printed by Saica Flex using a fluorescent ink from Sun Chemical, in what Sun Chemical describes as the first commercial use of that ink with Polytag's detection technology.
Why this mattersReal-time recycling-stream tracking gives brand owners and retailers data to support packaging circularity claims ahead of tightening EPR and recycled-content rules.
- UV-tagged labels applied to Arla's milk bottle range at its Oakthorpe site
- Labels printed by Saica Flex
- Fluorescent ink supplied by Sun Chemical, marking its first commercial use with Polytag's detection technology
- Ink tested against Recyclass Washing Quick Test Procedures and EPBP Quicktest QT 507
- Aldi UK involved via its Plastics and Packaging Director Luke Emery
- Arla Foods UK involved via its Head of Sustainability Helena Delgado Nordmann
- Polytag says the tagging can be integrated into existing production lines without affecting manufacturing efficiency
- The pilot phase is set to run for eight weeks.