Aldi, Arla pilot UV-tagged labels to track milk bottle recycling

Aldi and dairy cooperative Arla are collaborating with Polytag on an eight-week pilot using UV-tagged labels to track milk bottles through the UK recycling system.

The project uses specially developed fluorescent ink from Sun Chemical printed onto wrap-around labels produced by Saica Flex. The invisible UV tags enable individual packaging to be detected as it passes through recycling facilities, providing Aldi and Arla with data on the movement and recycling of their packaging.

The initiative builds on a 2023 trial involving Aldi, Arla and Polytag that utilized pressure-sensitive labels. The latest phase moves the technology to wrap-around labels applied to Arla milk bottles at the company’s Oakthorpe facility.

According to the companies, the fluorescent ink can be applied using standard printing methods without affecting production speeds. Sun Chemical says the ink has been tested against RecyClass Washing Quick Test Procedures and EPBP Quicktest QT 507 and is designed to work with Polytag’s detection technology without negatively affecting the quality of recycled polymers.

When tagged bottles enter the recycling stream, Polytag’s Plastic Detection Units installed at material recovery facilities detect the UV tags and transmit data to the company’s digital platform. Brands and retailers can then use the information to gain greater visibility into where and when packaging is processed.

“This next phase with Polytag represents an exciting step forward in how we use data to drive our sustainability strategy,” says Luke Emery, plastics and packaging director at Aldi UK. “By integrating this advanced traceability technology into our packaging, we can gain deeper insights into the lifecycle of our materials.”

Stefaan D’hoore, director of business development, specialty inks and coatings at Sun Chemical, said the project marks the first commercial use of the company’s fluorescent ink with Polytag’s technology.

The companies say the resulting data could help brands better measure progress against packaging sustainability targets and make more informed decisions regarding packaging design and recycling performance.