Waitrose has announced an initiative aimed at improving its efforts to track single-use plastic packaging, with the goal of understanding how much of this waste ultimately ends up in landfill. In collaboration with Polytag, the supermarket will employ “invisible UV tags” on its packaging, which are capable of being read when the items arrive at one of 12 designated Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) across the United Kingdom.

The tracking system marks a significant advancement in Waitrose’s sustainability strategy, enabling the company to obtain detailed insights into post-consumer recycling rates. Polytag stated that the tags are “applied at speed using fluorescent ink”, allowing Waitrose to monitor its plastic waste through an online portal that provides “live barcode-level lifecycle data” on their packaging materials.

Denise Mathieson, the head of packaging design and delivery at Waitrose, commented on the initiative: “Joining the programme is a significant step forward in enhancing our ability to track and understand the journey of our plastic packaging post-consumption. By leveraging Polytag’s technology, we will gain unprecedented insights into how our packaging is recycled, allowing us to make more informed decisions that support a circular economy.” Furthermore, Mathieson expressed excitement about collaborating with Polytag and other retailers to inspire meaningful changes in the industry, reinforcing the supermarket’s commitment to reducing single-use plastic waste.

Polytag, which partners with other retailers including Co-op, Ocado, Müller, and Aldi, highlighted the need for brands and retailers to accept greater responsibility for the recycling of their packaging materials, particularly in light of new extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation. Alice Rackley, CEO of Polytag, noted, “Waitrose joins us at a pivotal moment as we approach our goal of installing UV Tag detection technology at 12 sites within the first year of our Ecotrace programme.” She remarked on the importance of this achievement, stating that it will empower fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) brands, retailers, and waste management companies by granting them access to critical data on at least half of the UK’s waste recycling stream.

This initiative is part of a broader push within the retail sector to enhance transparency and efficiency in recycling processes, addressing the challenges posed by single-use plastics. The tracking technology provided by Polytag aims to contribute significantly to the development of a more effective recycling infrastructure in the UK.