
M&S introduces invisible UV tags to track packaging through recycling system
They have been printed onto the labels of M&S's four-pint, milk bottles available now in nationwide stores, with the aim of boosting recycling rates.
Once recycled by households, bottles will be scanned by Polytag's plastic detection units if the recycling facility has been retrofitted with the technology.
M&S will then be able to view live recycling data, accessing real-time, barcode-level insights into the recycling of its single-use, plastic packaging.
Polytag said the data is designed to accurately track sustainability targets, improve the accuracy of recycling claims and strengthen compliance with regulations that require businesses to pay for the management and recycling of their products' packaging waste.
The hope is also that the tags can help to reduce M&S's costs under these extended producer responsibility (EPR) rules through more precise reporting.
M&S has also invested £100,000 into Polytag's Ecotrace programme, which aims to drive the rollout of a nationwide, invisible UV tag reader network.
Co-op, Waitrose and Aldi have also been working with Polytag to introducing UV tags to their products.
Alice Rackley, chief executive of Polytag, said: 'Retailers and brands can no longer afford to lose sight of packaging the moment it leaves their supply chain.
'With EPR now in effect, we're entering a new era where real data is not just helpful, it's essential.
'By tagging products and tracking their journey through the recycling system, we're creating a clear line of sight from shelf to sorting facility.
'M&S taking this first-to-shelf step signals not only a commitment to transparency, but a real shift in how the industry approaches responsibility.
'It's a major milestone for the Ecotrace programme and for the wider UK recycling industry.'
Mark Hitschmann, head of packaging at M&S Food, said: 'We expect to gain more data and insight around what is happening to our packaging in the real world through our work with Polytag.
'Our customers consistently tell us that reducing plastic is very important to them so this is another way they can trust that M&S is doing the right thing to help them easily make more sustainable choices when they shop with us.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Guardian
4 hours ago
- The Guardian
‘Excellent size': UK blueberry crop up nearly a quarter after warm spring
British blueberries are the latest fruit to benefit from the warmest spring on record, with the harvest up by almost a quarter so far this year. Growers say the weather has produced an early crop with more and larger berries, while new varieties can bring higher yields and better resilience. About 5,133 tonnes are expected by the end of August, up significantly from almost 4,187 tonnes by the same point last year. Sales of the spherical fruit are already 9% ahead year on year as growing awareness of the health properties and a healthy crop bolster demand. Daniel Martin, the group commercial director at S&A Produce, says: 'This blueberry season has seen a really positive early start, about two weeks ahead of schedule, thanks to strong light levels and an absence of rain. 'As a result, we're seeing excellent fruit size and nice, even ripening across the crop. In summary, we are optimistic about the season and expect to see excellent flavour and shelf life from this year's crop.' The harvest is also being aided by new technology as growers invest in automated picking and other methods to reduce labour costs and improve efficiency. Jim Floor, the managing director of Hall Hunter, one of the UK's leading blueberry growers, said the company now used machines to harvest 10% of its crop, and this was expected to rise to 30% next year – with the rest picked by hand. Blueberries are leading the technology push, with the more delicate strawberries, raspberries and blackberries now all picked by hand at Hall Hunter. 'When it comes to robotic fruit picking, we're seeing steady and encouraging progress from robotics and automation companies. However, the technology isn't quite ready for widespread commercial adoption just yet,' Floor said. The blockbuster blueberry summer comes hot on the heels of a perfect spring for strawberries. The sunny, very dry spring, with the warmest start to May on record, led to a glut of early strawberries, aubergines and tomatoes at the start of May. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion Growers said they were producing 'giant' 50g strawberries you 'cannot fit in your mouth'. However, the average was a more modest 30g. Nick Marston, the chair of the industry body British Berry Growers, said that all UK berry crops, including strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, were up by about 25% so far thanks to 'cracking weather' in June that had helped ripen crops that had developed well during the cooler start to the spring. 'The weather has been very beneficial for all berry crops,' he said. However, Marston said it was not clear if the overall berry harvest for the year would be up by that amount as some fruit would have just have been harvested earlier than usual and picking might tail off depending on conditions.


South Wales Guardian
4 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Councils to get £1.1bn for recycling from packaging fees charged to firms
Under the current system, local councils have footed the bill for disposing of items such as milk bottles, cereal boxes and soup tins using taxpayers' money. But the new extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme that comes into force this year will require businesses to pay towards the costs of recycling packaging they use. Companies will start paying fees from November, with charges varying depending on how hard the material is to recycle. It is hoped this will encourage businesses to reduce the amount of packaging they use, shift to more recyclable materials and invest in circular economy innovations, ultimately reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills or incinerators. The Environment Department (Defra) said it expects to collect £1.4 billion from EPR fees over the next few months. Regardless of the final collection, the department said £1.1 billion is guaranteed to go to councils in England for the 2025/26 financial year. The further £300,000 is expected go to the UK's devolved authorities to allocate to councils. Councils will be able to choose how to spend the funding, such as offering local residents more streamlined collections, building new infrastructures or upgrading facilities. Environment Secretary Steve Reed said all councils must use the funding to deliver improved packaging waste collection services for their communities. The scheme's administrator PackUK has been given powers to reduce future funding allocations if evidence shows a council has funnelled it towards other purposes. More widely, the Government hopes the scheme will help to unlock regional growth, create new green jobs and boost household recycling rates which have seen little improvement over recent years. It pointed to projects such as waste management firm Veolia's facility in Southwark which handles and processes materials collected from homes and sends them to be turned into new products. Environment minister Mary Creagh said: 'This Government is cleaning up Britain and ending the throwaway society. She added that the money 'will revolutionise how we deal with our waste and ensure more of today's rubbish is recycled into tomorrow's packaging'. Local government minister Jim McMahon said: 'Clean and tidy streets are something everyone wants to see, and these commonsense reforms will help councils achieve that. 'Whether it's channelling more money into recycling or reforming the outdated funding system, we are fixing the foundations of local government so that it can focus on what matters most to people across the country.' Jacob Hayler, executive director of the Environmental Services Association, said: 'Our members stand ready to invest billions, alongside local authority partners, in the next generation of recycling services, infrastructure and jobs, which will provide a rapid boost to England's stalled recycling rates. 'The new producer responsibility regime for packaging, alongside other measures to simplify recycling services, will unlock this investment and support our ambition to achieve a circular economy in the United Kingdom over the next decade.' Jim Bligh, the Food and Drink Federation's director of corporate affairs and packaging, said: 'This announcement is welcome news for both industry and consumers, coming just before producers receive their first invoices for EPR. 'It marks a vital step towards delivering the improvements in the UK's recycling system that we all want and need.' Adam Hug, environment spokesperson for the Local Government Association, said: 'It's positive to see the costs of managing packaging waste shift to the industry creating this waste. 'Councils are proud to run some of the best recycling services in the world, with high levels of public satisfaction despite significant financial pressures. 'This success is built on council's local knowledge and strong links with communities, and we hope the new scheme will support that work and help reduce the amount of packaging ending up in household bins.' The EPR scheme comes as part of wider Government efforts to boost the circular economy, which also include the delayed deposit return scheme that provides a financial incentive to customers to return empty drinks containers to collection points. The Circular Economy Taskforce is also working with sectors to create a series of roadmaps to improve the approach to using materials.


Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Beautiful seaside town named one of UK's cheapest coastal gems with £194k homes
A stunning seaside town that has turned its reputation around and is experiencing a 'second wind' of tourism has been crowned the cheapest coastal resort in England Moving to the coast doesn't have to cost a fortune, especially in this charming seaside town. Demand for coastal properties has spiked by a staggering 115 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels, with swathes of Brits ready to ditch the city for a more laid-back life filled with golden sands and fish and chips. However, the sudden demand combined with limited availability has led to house prices skyrocketing in certain areas. Take Sandbanks, for example - a stunning neighbourhood in Poole, Dorset with crystal-clear waters, golden beaches, that's become somewhat of an A-list magnet in recent years. Here, average house properties cost a whopping £965,708 - more than triple the national average. If the near-million price tag is slightly out of budget, don't worry - as the Co-Operative Bank has analysed recent data to find the most affordable UK coastal towns for both buying and renting. In England, Morecambe came out top, with average house prices at just £194,295. "This Lancashire gem captures the essence of the English seaside, offering panoramic views over the seafront – as well as some of the most affordable house prices in the country," the bank said. "The average house price here is actually lower than in Oban at £194,295, working out as 7.44 times the average annual income. "However, rent prices in Morecambe are slightly higher, at an average of £821 per month. That's 37.7 per cent of the average monthly income." Top 20 seaside locations in UK - full list Oban Morecambe Blackpool Troon Filey Scarborough Whitby Southport Sunbar Swansea Portsmouth Torquay Eastbourne Weymouth Hastings Ramsgate Deal Aberystwyth Margate Newquay Boasting five miles of soft golden sand and an award-winning seafront promenade that looks out onto the stunning Lakeland Fells, Morecambe was once branded one of the worst seaside towns in the country. Now, it hopes to take on the hyped-up coastal resorts of Cornwall and bring its glory days back. "Morecambe offers you the chance to enjoy the many pleasures of the seaside, whether it's flying kites, building sandcastles or enjoying the views across the bay," Hails Visit Lancashire. "Stroll along Morecambe's promenade with an ice cream or have fun seeing it on two wheels, before grabbing a picnic and heading on down to the beach for a spot of sandcastle making or kite flying." Must-see attractions include the TERN project, which features a series of sculptures situated along Morecambe's seafront - from steel cormorants, gannets and razorbills to the statue of Eric Morecambe, which was unveiled by the late Queen in 1999. The Art Deco Midland Hotel has also undergone restoration in recent years - making it one of the town's most impressive structures. Featuring four modern 30s-inspired rooms, six rooftop suites, a top-notch restaurant and ultra-stylish bar, Midland is a great base for exploring Morecambe, or for splurging out on a fancy afternoon tea while soaking in the views. Prices start from £145 per night.