Aldi and Arla Implement UV Technology to Enhance Milk Bottle Recycling
UK supermarket Aldi and dairy cooperative Arla have teamed up with recycling platform Polytag for an operational pilot aimed at tracking milk bottle packaging throughout the recycling process using innovative UV-tagging technology. The initiative is designed to enhance understanding of the product lifecycle and improve packaging traceability.
The trial involves the application of Sun Chemical's specially developed ink on wrap-around labels for Arla's milk bottles at its Oakthorpe site. These labels, printed by Saica Flex, will enable real-time tracking of packaging as it progresses through the recycling stream. The data collected will offer insights into recycling rates and the journey of dairy packaging.
Luke Emery, Plastics and Packaging Director at Aldi UK, stated, "This next phase with Polytag represents an exciting step forward in how we use data to drive our sustainability strategy. By integrating this advanced traceability technology into our packaging, we can gain deeper insights into the lifecycle of our materials."
Helena Delgado Nordmann, head of sustainability at Arla Foods UK, expressed Arla's commitment to understanding how their packaging performs beyond the point of sale. She highlighted the importance of gaining valuable insights into the recycling system to inform future packaging developments and support efforts in improving packaging circularity.
The UV technology works by printing invisible UV tags directly onto packaging labels using food-safe fluorescent ink. This ink has undergone extensive safety and recycling testing and can be applied using standard printing methods, making it a cost-effective solution that does not impact production speed.
When tagged packaging enters the recycling stream, Polytag's Plastic Detection Units, installed at Materials Recovery Facilities, capture barcode-level data in real-time. This information is made available via the Polytag dashboard, providing detailed visibility of the packaging's journey through the recycling process.
Alice Rackley, CEO of Polytag, emphasized that the deployment with Aldi and Arla milk bottle labels showcases the scalability and reliability of the UV-tagging solution, highlighting the value of collaboration in bringing innovative packaging solutions to market.
