A collaboration between Polytag and Citeo.
Applying Innovation To Improve Recycling Rates
Challenge
Show that UV tag-and-trace holds up in a working recycling plant, under typical MRF operating conditions, with the results reviewed impartially.
Solution
Citeo tested Polytag Plastic Detection Units at a leading recycling plant, in simulated and real-life conditions, reading UV Tags printed directly onto packaging labels.
Result
Polytag detected 100% of UV-tagged single-use plastic bottles entering one of France’s busiest MRFs, operating at normal speed.
03 — The story
Tested where it counts.
Citeo was set up by companies in consumer goods and distribution to reduce the environmental impact of their packaging. It put Polytag’s tag-and-trace solution to the test in its own operational recycling centres. Polytag Plastic Detection Units read UV-tagged single-use plastic bottles under typical MRF operating conditions, and every tagged bottle that entered was detected, with barcode-level data captured as it went.
04 — Platform
Built with.
Invisible UV Tags
Printed in food-safe fluorescent ink with standard printing methods.
Plastic Detection Units
Easy to install, and tested in a working recycling plant.
Barcode-level data
Captured as each tagged item enters the recycling stream.
05 — The numbers
Of UV-tagged single-use plastic bottles detected at one of France’s busiest MRFs.
Citeo innovation project, 2025
Polytag is transforming the circular economy for plastic packaging with a rigorous and scaled “describe, tag and trace” platform solution, enabling real-time data capture on single-use plastic packaging lifecycles.
Utilised across a network of recycling centres in the UK and beyond, the Polytag solution applies UV watermarks directly onto packaging labels, which are scanned by easy-to-install Polytag Plastic Detection Units.
Brands and recyclers access the Polytag platform and track where and when their packaging is disposed of and recycled, thanks to barcode-level data, reported on their Polytag dashboards. An approved GS1 partner, Polytag is committed to upholding open standards, which are a key feature of cooperative supply chains.
Rigorously tested by the independent organisation, Citeo, the results of this study are further endorsement of a proven RecTech innovation building on Polytag’s network of detection systems delivered under the Ecotrace programme.
Verified Technology
The Citeo Report is developed by Polytag, leaders in the RecTech industry with a mission to supercharge the circular economy and make recycling even more rewarding, and Citeo, a company set up by companies in the consumer goods and distribution sector to reduce the environmental impact of their packaging and paper, by offering them solutions for reducing, reusing, sorting and recycling.
Conditions were tested at a leading recycling plant with guidance and engagement from all parties and involved exploring the accuracy of Polytag Plastic Detection Units when working in simulated and real-life condition. Tests were designed to demonstrate the reliability of the Polytag solution under typical MRF operating conditions and are impartially reviewed.
This report continues to affirm the outstanding performance of Polytag’s proven tag and trace solution, with one of the leading European compliance agencies verifying Polytag’s technology in their own fully operational recycling centres, confirming the outstanding performance of this proven tag and trace solution.
Polytag believe in testing in real-life environments to better optimise and innovate. This enables us to continuously improve our Polytag Plastic Detection Units. Full test results are available now.
It’s been an honour to collaborate with Citeo with a joint aim of rigorously testing and, where appropriate, iterating our UV tag-and-trace technology. Our full report is now accessible and we are excited by the results.
