Advanced Sortation for MRFs

Polytag is collaborating with Pellenc ST to bring advanced sorting to MRFs across the UK, Europe and beyond. This collaboration combines Pellenc ST’s advanced near-infra red sorting technology with Polytag’s data dashboard enhancing and informing packaging traceability using invisible UV tags. This fusion of technologies allows for a dual-sorting process. 

The NIR technology first identifies the plastic polymer type (e.g., PET, PP), while the UV reader simultaneously reads the digital tags on the same product. This synergistic approach allows for highly precise secondary sorting, enabling the separation of even a single type of plastic into different grades, such as food-grade versus non-food-grade or even by brand. Digital Product Passports (DPPs) are digital records that accompany physical products, providing comprehensive information about their lifecycle. Each product has its own digital twin or an “identity card” that can be accessed electronically.

Together, the Polytag and Pellenc ST offering represents a powerful step-change. By digitising the recycling chain the innovators provide brand owners with the data they need for accountability and strategic decision-making, while empowering recyclers with the tools to achieve higher-purity material streams.

This technology is not only an improvement to existing processes; it is a foundational element for a truly closed-loop system, unlocking new circular recycling routes for millions of tons of plastic and setting a new standard for a future where materials are not wasted, but instead the value is preserved.