M&S four-pint milk bottles now feature invisible UV tags, meaning they can be tracked through the recycling system with help from Polytag.
The tags, which are invisible to consumers, are printed on the labels of the milk bottles. After they have been recycled by households, the bottles enter recycling centres where they are scammed by Polytag’s Plastic Detection Units. At this point, the retailer is able to view live recycling data.
This gives M&S real-time, barcode-level insights into when, where and how much of its single-use packaging is recycled by customers. These insights can be used to track sustainability targets, improve the accuracy of recyclability claims, and assist with regulatory compliance.
In recent months, Polytag has collaborated with major recycling companies like Biffa to install UV Plastic Detection Units at high volume recycling facilities across the UK.
The company claims to have covered 50% of the Uk via investment in the Ecotrace Programme, including an investment of £100,000 investment by M&S. B
Mark Hitschmann, Head of Packaging at M&S Food, comments: We expect to gain more data and insight around what is happening to our packaging in the real-world through our work with Polytag.
“Our customers consistently tell us that reducing plastic is very important to them so this is another way they can trust that M&S is doing the right thing to help them easily make more sustainable choices when they shop with us.”
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