UV-Tagged Milk Bottles

Aldi and Arla Has Introduced Polytag UV-Tagging

Aldi and Arla expanded their collaboration with Polytag to track milk bottles through the recycling process using UV-tagging technology. The project applies UV-tagged wrap-around labels to Arla milk bottles produced at its Oakthorpe site, helping the companies better understand how the packaging moves through recycling streams.

The labels use food-safe fluorescent ink and can be detected by Polytag units installed at Materials Recovery Facilities. These units capture barcode-level data in real time, with participating companies able to access the information through a dashboard. The latest trial uses wrap-around labels instead of the pressure-sensitive labels tested previously to improve durability and coverage.

For Aldi and Arla, the project provides more detailed visibility into packaging after the point of sale. The initiative supports data-based packaging decisions and reflects broader efforts to improve traceability and circularity across recycling systems.

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