Polytag, the connected packaging and recycling technology leader, has today announced a landmark moment for the UK’s packaging and recycling sector as Marks & Spencer (M&S) becomes the first retailer to bring invisible UV tags to shelf – applying them to its best-selling four-pint milk products, now available in stores nationwide.
A world first that will help boost UK recycling rates
Invisible to consumers, Polytag’s UV tags have been printed onto the labels of M&S four-pint milk bottles. Once recycled by households, the bottles will enter recycling facilities where they will be scanned by Polytag’s Plastic Detection Units, with the retailer able to view live recycling data.
By ‘tagging’ products with invisible UV tags, M&S now gains access to real-time, barcode-level insights into when, where, and how much of its single-use plastic packaging is recycled by consumers. This data is designed to accurately track sustainability targets, improve the accuracy of recycling claims and strengthen compliance with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations – potentially reducing associated costs through more precise reporting.
An evolution in the UK recycling industry
Over the past year, Polytag has partnered with recycling giants, such as Biffa and Re-Gen, to install UV Plastic Detection Units at the UK’s highest volume recycling facilities, covering up to 50% of the UK through investment into the Ecotrace Programme, including a significant £100,000 investment by M&S. By improving the traceability of packaging across the country, Polytag supports closed-loop recycling systems for single-use plastic, aiming to increase the quantity of good quality recycled plastic in the UK.
Alice Rackley, CEO of Polytag, said:
"Retailers and brands can no longer afford to lose sight of packaging the moment it leaves their supply chain. With EPR now in effect, we’re entering a new era where real data is not just helpful, it’s essential.
“By tagging products and tracking their journey through the recycling system, we’re creating a clear line of sight from shelf to sorting facility. M&S taking this first-to-shelf step signals not only a commitment to transparency, but a real shift in how the industry approaches responsibility. It’s a major milestone for the Ecotrace Programme and for the wider UK recycling industry.”
Mark Hitschmann, Head of Packaging at M&S Food, said:
“Reducing plastic is central to our Plan A journey to Net Zero and since 2022 we’ve removed over 500m units from our Foodhalls. We’re famous for innovation, both product led such as our Brain Food range and the latest viral sensation, the Strawberry and Crème sandwich, as well as in sustainability through our Plan A Accelerator Fund which allows us to apply our market-leading approach to further our journey to Net Zero. 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.”
Polytag’s invisible UV tags - a layer of data matrix codes - are plate-printed onto the milk bottles at standard line speeds by Interket UK. Visit https://polytag.io/ecotrace/ to learn more.