Aldi and Arla Launch UV Tagging Trial to Track Milk Bottle Recycling

The project utilizes specialized fluorescent ink from Sun Chemical, which is applied to wrap-around labels at Arla’s Oakthorpe production facility. These labels are designed to be detected by Polytag’s ink-agnostic units, allowing for precise tracking without compromising the quality of recycled polymers. The ink has already undergone testing against industry standards, including Recyclass and EPBP protocols, to ensure it remains compatible with existing recycling infrastructure.

This initiative marks the first commercial application of Sun Chemical’s fluorescent ink alongside Polytag’s technology. According to Luke Emery, Plastics and Packaging Director at Aldi UK, the data gathered will be instrumental in refining the retailer’s sustainability strategy. Helena Delgado Nordmann, head of sustainability at Arla Foods UK, noted that understanding how packaging performs post-purchase is a critical step for the dairy cooperative in making informed decisions about future design and material circularity.