Polytag has officially announced a strategic partnership with Multi-Color Corporation (MCC), a global leader in premium label solutions, to integrate Polytag’s UV tag technology directly into in-mould labelled (IML) packaging. This collaboration represents a significant industry milestone, as it allows brands to utilize these innovative tags within IML applications for the first time. By combining the specialized expertise of MCC’s Global IML business unit with Polytag’s advanced packaging intelligence platform, the partnership extends packaging traceability capabilities across a broader spectrum of product categories. This is particularly relevant for goods sold in demanding retail environments, such as frozen foods, where traditional labeling methods may lack the necessary durability for consistent tracking.
The technology was recently featured in a successful rollout for the Happy Cow faux brand tub packaging, which served as a centerpiece for a demonstration day organized by GS1 and the optical sortation firm Pellenc ST. This event illustrated how connected packaging solutions can work in tandem with advanced sorting systems to significantly improve material recovery. Polytag’s solution utilizes a digital fingerprint that remains invisible to the naked eye but is easily identified by specialized detection units installed at Material Recovery Facilities. Unlike standard visual identification, this digital fingerprint carries granular, packaging-specific information, including material composition, recycled content, and the origin of the material. Such data allows for precise sorting based on attributes that are vital to successful recycling outcomes. Furthermore, the recycling data captured through the platform is shared with brands to help them manage Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees and refine packaging designs to better support a circular economy.
The initiative is already seeing practical application, having been deployed on milk bottles for prominent retailers such as Waitrose and Ocado. Alice Rackley, CEO of Polytag, stated, “Working with MCC allows us to extend the reach of our technology, and scale into new packaging formats, helping brands access valuable recycling data while preparing for the future of connected packaging and digital product information.” Nico Van de Walle, senior product and circularity manager at MCC Global IML, added, “The packaging industry is entering a period of transformation as brands prepare for greater product transparency and the wider adoption of connected packaging technologies. By combining MCC’s expertise in IML with Polytag’s technology, we’re helping bring connected packaging to more products and more consumers.” Jon Anderson, chief technology officer at Polytag, commented, “For connected packaging to deliver real value, it needs to work across as many packaging formats as possible. Extending our technology into IML packaging is an important step forward. It allows brands to gain deeper insight into what happens to packaging after use, as well as gathering data to support better recycling and circular economy goals.” This expansion of UV tag technology into new formats ensures that more materials remain traceable, facilitating improved material recovery and higher standards for packaging traceability across global retail environments.
