Plastic Packaging Revolution: M&S Uses UV Technology to Solve Milk Bottle Recycling Challenge

UK retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) has introduced invisible UV labels on its 4-pint milk bottles to improve tracking of its plastic packaging recycling methods.

The "UV" label is affixed to the product label and is not visible to the customer.

This move makes it the first British retailer to place such technology on supermarket shelves.

The UV label is attached to the product label and is not visible to customers. Once the bottles are collected for recycling, they are scanned at the recycling facility so that the data can be sent back to the retailers.

The system was developed by technology company Polytag, enabling Marks & Spencer to see where, when, and how much packaging is recycled. The aim is to help retailers measure progress towards recycling targets and comply more accurately with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations.

EPR regulations require companies to take greater responsibility for the packaging placed on the market, including disposal and recycling costs.

Marks & Spencer has invested £100,000 ($135,000) through the Ecotrace program. Polytag has already partnered with waste management companies such as Biffa and Re-Gen to install scanning devices at major recycling centers, which are now estimated to cover half of the UK.

The journey to net zero

Mark Hitschmann, Packaging Manager at Marks & Spencer, stated: "Reducing plastic is at the heart of our A Plan journey to achieve net zero emissions. Since 2022, we have collected over 500 million items from the food court."
We are renowned for our innovation, not only in our product leadership—such as our Brain Food range and the latest viral hit, the Strawberry and Cream Sandwich—but also through our A Plan Accelerator Fund in sustainability, which enables us to apply our market-leading approach to further progress towards net zero emissions.

“We hope that through our partnership with Polytag, we can gain more data and insights about what happens to our packaging in the real world. Our customers have consistently told us that reducing plastic is very important to them, so this is another way for them to trust that M&S is doing the right thing to help them make more sustainable choices easily when shopping with us. We hope that more precise data and better traceability will help improve both the quality and quantity of recycled materials in the UK.”

Polytag CEO Alice Rackley stated: "Retailers and brands can no longer ignore packaging once it leaves the supply chain. With the implementation of EPR, we are entering a new era where real data is not only helpful but essential."

“By tagging products and tracking their journey through the recycling system, we are creating clear visibility from the shelf to the sorting facility. Marks & Spencer taking this pioneering step not only demonstrates a commitment to transparency, but also signifies a genuine shift in how the industry approaches responsibility. This is an important milestone for the Ecotrace program and the wider UK recycling industry.”

Editor: Lily

The source of material: ecoplasticsinpackaging