Polytag bags £100,000+ in Small Business Research Initiative funding for recycling innovation project

Polytag has been awarded over £100,000 from the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Centre of Excellence, funded by the Welsh government, to install four Polytag Plastic Detection Units across the country.

The Plastic Detection Units, which scan and collect data on individual products at barcode level as they enter the recycling stream, will be placed at key material recovery facilities (MRFs) in Conwy, Gwynedd, Pembrokeshire, and Anglesey.

The funding has been granted to Polytag as part of an upcoming circular economy innovation project to help the Welsh public sector achieve net zero by 2030.

With Polytag now involved, the project will become part of a broader initiative to invest in and revolutionise recycling in Wales, reducing reliance on single-use plastics and creating a circular economy.

By scanning Polytag’s UV watermarks affixed to products, the Plastic Detection Units gather invaluable data on the types and quantities of materials being recycled at barcode level, shedding light on the true composition of the recycling waste stream at any given time.

Developed in partnership with Welsh company, EBS, the four new Plastic Detection Units aim to provide a full picture of the recycling landscape through their strategic deployment at MRFs estimated to support a number of council districts looking to increase recycled household waste.

The scheme is an opportunity for Welsh businesses and major brands to gain insights into the entire lifecycle of their product packaging, from production to disposal, and ultimately to measure how much is recycled. 

Polytag will also work with a number of regional and national brands to integrate its UV watermarks with its GS1 approved consumer facing QR codes, creating a digital trail to trace packaging throughout the recycling journey, at the barcode level.

Alice Rackley, CEO at Polytag, says: “This partnership is another remarkable move by the Welsh government towards a fully circular economy. Wales has been leading in this space for years, and Polytag is privileged to become a bigger part of that.”

“This fund will enable us to install our award winning technology at four key sites that see large amounts of waste and recycling in Wales and help provide invaluable data that will enable brands to take responsibility for their packaging.”

“Originally a Welsh startup, we are passionate about supporting like-minded businesses and government initiatives. This funding is just the first step to support the work Wales is already doing to raise recycling rates and open the door to brands who want to learn when, where, and how much of its packaging is recycled.”

2024 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

Green retail is a key focus area for the sixth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards, which is now open for entries.

The awards, sponsored by CADS, 3D Cloud, Retail Technology Show 2025, and Business France, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

It’s free to enter and you can do so across multiple categories.

Key 2024 dates

Friday, 25th October: Award entry deadline 

Tuesday, 29th October: 2024 shortlist revealed

30th October-6th November: Judging days

Thursday, 21st November: Winners announced at the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, to be held at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London.