Waitrose partners with Polytag to advance plastic recycling in the UK

UK – British supermarket chain Waitrose & Partners has joined forces with Polytag by signing on to its Ecotrace scheme, a cutting-edge, industry-led initiative to revolutionize the tracking and recycling of plastic packaging in the UK.

Launched in 2024, the Ecotrace program is designed to streamline the management of household plastic waste.

By participating, Waitrose will gain access to Polytag’s digital dashboard, which delivers live, barcode-level life cycle data on plastic packaging.

This enables the retailer to track how its packaging moves through the recycling process—enhancing both the accuracy and efficiency of recycling operations.

Polytag’s UV tag detection technology is at the heart of the Ecotrace system, which is currently deployed at 12 material recovery facilities (MRFs) across the UK.

These invisible UV tags are applied using fluorescent ink, allowing for seamless and swift identification during recycling.

With the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation coming into effect, this initiative will help brands like Waitrose more effectively meet their regulatory recycling obligations.

Polytag plans to install 12 detection units to expand its impact, further widening the scope of recyclable plastic tracking and offering richer data insights.

Denise Mathieson, Head of Packaging Design and Delivery at Waitrose, emphasised the retailer’s commitment, “At Waitrose, we are committed to reducing our environmental impact and finding innovative solutions to improve packaging recyclability.

“Joining Polytag’s Ecotrace Programme is a significant step in helping us track and understand the journey of our plastic packaging post-consumption. These insights will guide more informed, sustainable decisions and support a circular economy.”

Beyond plastic, Waitrose is also innovating in other areas of packaging. In 2024, the retailer introduced home-compostable packaging for its own-brand Duchy tea bags, which have been certified with TUV OK compost Home accreditation. This allows customers to dispose of the tea bags directly in home compost bins.

Waitrose says the packaging redesign—including reduced ink on tea bag tags—improves decomposition and helps enrich garden soil with nitrogen, which benefits plant growth.

Christina Capellaro, Packaging Development Manager at Waitrose, added, “Our customers want to shop, eat, and drink more sustainably. By securing compostable certifications for products like our Duchy tea bags, we’re giving them confidence that small changes can make a big environmental difference.”

With these developments, Waitrose positions itself at the forefront of sustainable packaging, blending technological innovation with customer-focused environmental responsibility.

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