British supermarket chain Waitrose & Partners has joined Polytag’s Ecotrace scheme, an industry-led initiative aimed at transforming the tracking and recycling of plastic packaging in the UK.
The scheme, introduced in 2024, is designed to optimise the management of domestic plastic waste.
By joining the Ecotrace scheme, Waitrose will gain access to the Polytag dashboard, an online platform that offers live barcode-level life cycle data on plastic packaging materials.
This system tracks the progress of packaging as it enters the recycling process, helping to improve both accuracy and efficiency in recycling.
Polytag’s Ecotrace Programme works by deploying its invisible UV Tag detection technology at 12 strategically placed material recovery facilities (MRFs) across the UK.
This technology detects packaging marked with Polytag’s UV Tags, which are applied swiftly using fluorescent ink to enhance identification during the recycling procedure.
With the introduction of extended producer responsibility legislation in the UK, this initiative will support brands and retailers to meet their recycling obligations.
Polytag is planning to extend its coverage with the installation of 12 additional Polytag plastic detection units at MRFs across the country.
This expansion will broaden the reach of the UK’s plastic waste stream, providing members with even more data and helping to improve recycling rates.
Waitrose packaging design and delivery head Denise Mathieson said: “At Waitrose, we are committed to reducing our impact on the environment and finding innovative solutions to improve the recyclability of our packaging.
“Joining Polytag’s Ecotrace 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.”
Last October, Waitrose trialled cork recycling across seven of its UK stores.
