Polytag has installed its UV tag detection technology at Wyllie Recycling’s material recovery facility (MRF) in Perth, extending its Ecotrace packaging-tracking network into Scotland.
The system detects invisible UV tags applied to packaging as items pass through participating recycling facilities.
It records barcode-level data about which tagged packaging is detected, together with the location and time.
Depending on the information encoded, the tags can also provide additional details about packaging, including plastic melt flow temperature, the packaging converter and food-grade status.
Polytag said data could help businesses assess packaging performance, inform packaging design and build a clearer evidence base for recycling outcomes as the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system evolves.
Wyllie Recycling operates a 4.5-acre MRF in Perth, processing twin-stream kerbside recycling for multiple Scottish local authorities.
According to the companies, the facility handles around 15,000 tonnes of post-consumer plastic packaging annually.
Brands using UV-tagged packaging access additional data on the recovery of their products across Scotland.
Ocado Retail and Waitrose are among the businesses already using Polytag’s detection network.
Alice Rackley, chief executive, Polytag, said: “Bringing Ecotrace to Scotland is an important step in building a clearer picture of what happens to packaging after use.
“Wyllie Recycling’s participation helps extend that visibility into Scotland. The more recycling facilities that join the network, the more representative the picture becomes, giving brands better evidence to inform packaging decisions and helping the industry understand how packaging performs in the real world.”
The technology was also named in the Reuse & Recycle category of Time’s Best Innovations of 2026.