POLYTAG, Saica Flex, and Paragon are teaming up to deliver UV-tagged packaging labels to provide brands with real-time, actionable environmental data.
The collaboration combines Polytag’s detection technology, Saica Flex’s packaging production, and Paragon’s specialist UV inks.
The move is said to be is already having an impact, with labels produced for Waitrose milk cartons now in-market and actively generating verified recycling data.
The labels carry invisible UV tags, printed with Paragon’s inks products. Once they enter the recycling stream, Polytag’s detection systems scan the labels and capture item-level data. Using this, recyclers can track in real time which products enter recycling, measure recovery rates, and demonstrate compliance with regulations such as EPR.
Francisco Barrera, sales & marketing director at Saica Flex, said, “We knew from the start that adoption would depend on keeping things simple. Brands need solutions that fit naturally into their operations and current production environments. This product works across the entire packaging lifecycle, from printing through recycling with minimal disruption. It gives brands meaningful insight, while remaining practical and viable even for high-volume products like milk cartons.”
Alice Rackley, CEO of Polytag, added, “And because it’s built on GS1 global open standards, the UV tag solution is ready to scale across multiple sectors and applications, allowing brands and recyclers to participate fully in building a transparent circular economy.”
The UV inks underwent development and testing to ensure full compatibility with standard waste management processes. The labels can be chipped down or separated through flotation, and any residual ink behaves in line with other approved UV products.
Barbara Paterson, technical director at Paragon Inks, explained, “Creating the UV inks was a technical challenge. They needed to remain detectable by Polytag readers across a wide range of colours, substrates, and packaging formats, even after packaging has been crushed or otherwise processed. At the same time, the inks had to meet strict food-safety and environmental requirements.
“Two years of development, testing, and iterative validation went into delivering a solution that is reliable, safe, and fully compatible with existing waste management operations.”
The collaboration will enable brands to understand their packaging’s journey and take the lead in sustainability. The UV label solution is ready to scale across multiple packaging formats, from beverages and dairy to a range of consumer goods.
