Polytag’s Ecotrace Programme has been selected for TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026 in the Reuse & Recycle category, placing the packaging traceability system among 300 innovations on the publication’s annual list. The programme is intended to give brands and retailers more information about what happens to their packaging once it reaches recycling facilities.
At the centre of Ecotrace is a tagging system that uses specialist fluorescent UV inks. The tags are invisible to the naked eye and can be added to packaging labels through existing printing processes, according to Polytag. Because the approach is designed to work with established production workflows, packaging manufacturers, printers, converters and ink suppliers can incorporate traceability without a fundamental overhaul of their operations.
Capturing after-use data
Brands activate the invisible UV tags on their packaging. When tagged packs pass through equipped recycling facilities, Polytag equipment detects the tags and captures barcode-level data. The system uses global open standards to record which tagged packaging reaches those facilities and where and when it is detected.
The tags can also carry other information about a pack, including plastic melt flow temperature, the packaging converter and food-grade status. Depending on what is encoded, Polytag says the system can provide insights at pack-variant or batch level and across defined time periods. That data is intended to give brands and retailers a clearer view of packaging performance after use and to inform decisions on packaging design, material selection and recyclability.
Polytag argues that the data can become more valuable as Extended Producer Responsibility rules increase accountability for packaging placed on the market. In that context, the company says the system can help businesses build a stronger evidence base for packaging performance and recycling outcomes. The technology is already being used by Ocado and Waitrose, with UV-tagged packaging generating data at enabled recycling facilities.
Industry reaction
Debbie Waldron-Hoines, consultant CEO at the Flexographic Industry Association, said the TIME recognition shows the role innovation can play in addressing major packaging challenges. For printers and converters, she said, technologies that connect packaging with data about its after-use journey could create opportunities to help brands assess packaging performance and inform future design decisions. She added that it was encouraging to see innovation linking the print and packaging sector with wider discussions about recycling and circularity.
Alice Rackley, chief executive of Polytag, described the TIME listing as a strong endorsement of efforts across the packaging value chain to make packaging lifecycles more visible. She said the programme brings together packaging producers, ink specialists, retailers and recycling operators, connecting expertise to bridge the gap between how packaging is designed and what happens after use. According to Rackley, that collaboration is central to turning better data into better decisions, helping brands design packaging with end-of-life considerations in mind and supporting progress toward a more circular economy.