Polytag introduces QR code, UV tag combo

Polytag is introducing a combination of unique-every-time QR codes and UV tags to Co-op's PET 2-liter spring water bottles.  

This innovation provides Co-op with significant visibility of its packaging during the recycling process.  

The QR codes, applied at the standard label application speeds, are GS1 compliant and will direct consumers to a Co-op landing page with information about the retailer's sustainability and commitments. 

Meanwhile, a UV tag layer invisible to the human eye captures barcode-level information, providing real-time insights on packaging volumes and whether it was recycled. 

The QR codes' unique serial numbers can handle fraud-proof rewards, assign loyalty points, and secure deposit redemptions. The printing of UV tags provides supply chain stakeholders with unique packaging lifecycle data, including where and when it was produced and the percentage of recycled material it contains, protecting against fraud.  

Both the visible QR codes and the ‘hidden’ UV tags pave the way for a cost-effective digital deposit return scheme. In the future, scanning the unique QR code on used product packaging could enable consumers to reclaim their deposit via their smartphones from home. 

Brands may also benefit from on-pack QR codes and UV tags, providing them with data to ‘describe, tag and trace’ their plastic packaging through the circular economy, while also streamlining packaging and recycling operations.  

The technology also allows legislators to measure business liabilities and enforce legislation by identifying plastic packaging ownership. Local authorities and recycling centers can capture real-time data on packaging composition and breakdown of bales, helping to inform recycling strategy, investment in sorting and recovery equipment and onward tracking of materials. 

Rob Thompson, packaging manager at Co-op, championed the initiative as a necessary enabler for a circular recycling economy for all packaging materials: ‘The duality of the UV tag and QR code on our water bottles will enable Co-op to gain a greater understanding of a product's journey in the recycling chain and provide valuable insight to shape guidance and measurement for future initiatives to encourage more people to recycle.’ 

Alice Rackley, CEO of Polytag, believes the combination of consumer-facing QR codes and UV tags is the future of creating and maintaining a circular economy, stating: ‘The onus is now firmly on the industry to take responsibility for the packaging they produce. Polytag is a necessary enabler for FMCG brands committed to circularity. It is a data, sustainability and marketing platform in one, already delivering world-firsts in partnership with major brands, such as Co-op who are reaping the rewards of greater visibility of their packaging.’ 

Rackley encouraged other brands and retailers to explore the potential of this innovative approach.