Co-op has entered into a trial to use UV tag reading technology to identify how much of its plastic packaging is being recycled.
The technology, developed by Polytag, will enable the retailer and brands to determine the exact number of plastic containers that are being sorted and handled in material recovery facilities (MRFs).
The trial will be rolled out on one of Co-op’s own-brand spring water lines and when the bottle reaches a specific recycling centre in North Wales, the UV code will be read by specialist equipment fitted to the sorting machines. The data collected will be uploaded to Polytag’s intuitive, cloud-based analytics dashboard, providing Co-op with real-time insights on packaging lifecycles.
The insights l will enable Co-op to improve its understanding of recycling figures and help benchmark future rates for the industry.
Matt Hood, MD of Co-op Food, said: “We all have our part to play when it comes to recycling and, as a retailer, we want to gain a greater understanding on a product’s journey in the recycling chain to help paint a clearer picture and support future traceability.
“This new trial will enable Co-op to gather valuable insight to provide guidance and measurement for future initiatives to encourage more people to recycle and it will also support the industry with true benchmarks for recycling rates in the UK for the very first time.”
Alice Rackley, CEO of Polytag, added: “This trial will enable brands to stop guessing and start knowing where and when their packaging is disposed of and recycled – a crucial step towards a packaging circular economy. We’re absolutely delighted that Co-op has agreed to work with Polytag to continue to develop and deliver technology that will enable us to all recycle more, together.”
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