Kraft Heinz has joined Polytag’s Ecotrace programme, an initiative aiming to improve packaging recyclability in the UK through UV tag technology.
The scheme uses invisible UV Tag technology to capture data on single-use plastic packaging, said to provide Kraft Heinz with real-time insights into whether packaging is being recycled, in what volumes, and through which waste management streams.
The rollout will begin with a pilot on select lines of Heinz Beanz and Heinz Tomato Ketchup, with plans to scale the technology across additional product categories based on learnings from the initial deployment.
John Ryan, director of Packaging for Kraft Heinz’ International markets, says: “Transforming our Heinz squeezy ketchup bottles to become fully recyclable was a big milestone in our packaging journey - improving how we track and trace its journey post-consumption is an important next step, and we’re excited by the possibilities this new partnership will unlock.”
Alice Rackley, CEO of Polytag, adds: “The Ecotrace Programme represents a monumental effort from our team and industry partners. For the first time, we’re able to collect barcode level data at scale on the single-use plastics that UK households put into their recycling bins every day. Joining the Ecotrace programme extends Kraft Heinz’s impact beyond their own brand, to supporting the circular economy across the whole of the nation.”
At the start of the year Kraft Heinz developed a box for fries with a built-in ketchup compartment, designed for on-the-go consumption. The patent-pending Heinz Dipper aims to be ‘simple, intuitive and mess-free’.
The following month we reported on Polytag, Saica Flex and Paragon Inks’ partnership to print invisible UV tags on packaging labels and track item-level recycling data, in line with environmental legislation and reporting requirements. Additionally, the labels can be chipped down or separated through flotation.
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