A serious breakthrough for the recycling business is claimed with the profitable detection of 100% of UV-tagged single-use plastic bottles coming into one in all Europe’s busiest Supplies Recycling Amenities (MRF) in France.
The profitable mission was undertaken by Wales-based expertise agency Polytag and international packaging compliance firm Citeo.
The collaboration between the 2 companies, centered on advancing innovation within the recycling sector, is alleged to display the effectiveness of Polytag’s answer in offering insights into the lifecycle of plastic packaging. “Access to accurate barcode-level data will enable brands and retailers to meet Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations, monitor sustainability initiatives and increase recycling rates,” says an announcement from the agency.
Main manufacturers step up their pursuit of recycling information
The information that Citeo achieved a 100% detection charge follows the current announcement that UK grocery store chain Waitrose & Companions has joined Biffa, Ocado Retail and Marks & Spencer in supporting Polytag’s Ecotrace programme.
By way of the Ecotrace programme, Polytag’s distinctive Plastic Detection Items (PDUs) have been put in in MRFs throughout the UK. “This enables brands and retailers to UV Tag their packaging and obtain never-seen-before, real-time insights into the collection and sorting of single-use plastic at recycling centres nationwide,” says the group.
UV Tags confirmed to be detected on single-use plastics
Citeo detected UV Tags printed utilizing food-safe fluorescent ink utilized straight on packaging labels utilizing normal printing strategies, together with digital, flexographic solvent-based and UV-cure inks. “This low-cost, easy-to-integrate solution does not impact production speed and can be seamlessly incorporated into existing packaging processes.”
Entry to never-before-seen information
Throughout its collaboration with Polytag, Citeo stated it was capable of entry barcode-level information captured as UV-tagged gadgets entered the recycling stream and had been detected by Polytag’s Detection Items. “Companies applying UV Tags to their packaging will be able to view their own unique data in real time via the Polytag dashboard, providing a comprehensive view of each item’s journey through the recycling process. By sharing this data with supply chain partners, brands and retailers can help drive an industry-wide approach to improving recycling rates.”
Combining this barcode-level information with Polytag’s on-pack QR codes, that are powered by GS1 requirements, will present additional advantages, says the agency. It would put together manufacturers and retailers for the change from conventional stripy barcodes to QR codes, whereas additionally enabling them to tailor shopper advertising initiatives, create revolutionary loyalty programmes and ship partaking on-pack directions.
Alice Rackley, CEO of Polytag, commented:
“Working with a world chief like Citeo and reaching a 100% detection charge in a MRF, working at regular velocity throughout lively working circumstances, is a milestone second for us, and the broader recycling business. It demonstrates the plain effectiveness of our UV Tags for PET bottles in full-scale facility circumstances.
“Our UV Tags, combined with our advanced detection technology, provide an unprecedented level of insight through the supply chain, tagging and tracing every piece of packaging. In this way, Polytag technology empowers businesses to make informed decisions, to optimise their processes and to truly embrace circularity.”
A spokesperson from the Citeo innovation mission staff added: “Polytag has been selected as part of an innovation project. We want to explore the potential of marking technologies and their impact on sorting performance in live environments. These are the first results we’ve seen and they will enable us to project the use of this new kind of data in packaging sorting.”
Go to https://polytag.io/ for extra info.
