POLYTAG has expanded its Ecotrace programme into Scotland, with its UV tag detection technology installed at Wyllie Recycling’s material recovery facility (MRF) in Perth.
The innovation allows brands to gain greater visibility of what happens to their packaging after it leaves the shelves.
The installation coincides with the announcement of Polytag’s technology as one of TIME’s Best Innovations of 2026. Selected in the Reuse & Recycle category, the programme was recognised among 300 innovations changing our lives and is now making a difference within the Scottish recycling ecosystem.
The solution detects invisible UV tags activated on packaging as it passes through enabled recycling facilities, capturing barcode-level data about which tagged packaging is detected, and where and when. Depending on the information encoded, the tags can also provide additional details about packaging, including plastic melt flow temperature, the packaging converter, and food-grade status.
These insights can help businesses assess packaging performance, inform design, and build a clearer evidence base for recycling outcomes as the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system evolves.
The installation marks Polytag’s 15th UV detection unit and extends Ecotrace’s coverage into Scotland. Wyllie Recycling operates a 4.5-acre MRF in Perth, processing twin-stream kerbside recycling for multiple Scottish local authorities. The facility processes 15,000 tonnes of post-consumer plastic packaging per year.
Alice Rackley, CEO of Polytag, said, “Bringing Ecotrace to Scotland is an important step in building a clearer picture of what happens to packaging after use. Recycling doesn’t stop at the point a household puts its packaging out for collection, and we need better visibility of what happens next if we’re going to make meaningful progress towards a more circular economy.
“Wyllie Recycling’s participation helps extend that visibility into Scotland. The more recycling facilities that join the network, the more representative the picture becomes, giving brands better evidence to inform packaging decisions and helping the industry understand how packaging performs in the real world.”
