PELLENC ST, a specialist in the design and manufacturing of intelligent sorting and quality control solutions for the waste and recycling industry, and Polytag, a data platform provider specialising in packaging information within the circular economy, have joined forces.
The collaboration merges advanced sorting technology with invisible UV watermark-based tracking to enhance material recovery and traceability.
The partnership will enable real-time tracking and optimisation of packaging waste through the recycling process from MRF to recyclers. Each packaging item is embedded with invisible printed UV watermarks, in the form of a GS1 open standard data matrices. As it enters the recycling stream, a detection unit captures its associated data.
The non-exclusive partnership between Polytag and Pellenc ST provides recycling facilities with new capabilities to detect and sort waste streams. By embedding smart data at barcode level directly into packaging materials, the aim is to empower waste management companies and brand owners with ‘unprecedented’ control of the recycling journey of their products.
“Our partnership with Pellenc ST marks a significant milestone for circularity,” said Alice Rackley, CEO of Polytag. “By combining our UV watermark technology, powered by GS1 standards, with their smart sorting and quality control solutions, we are giving brand owners unparalleled insight into their recycled packaging, reinforcing sustainability and traceability in the value chain.”
Jean Henin, CEO of Pellenc ST, added, “Open standards are critical to implement Digital Product Passports. By partnering with Polytag, we are empowering recycling facilities with innovative tools to optimise sorting processes and enhance material recovery.”
Pellenc ST and Polytag have implemented a sorting prototype in Pellenc ST Innovation Centre and validated it to TRL 7. In addition, Pellenc ST plans to manufacture UV reader modules.
