Growing consumer preference for sustainable packaging is driving increased adoption of metals such as aluminium and steel across industries including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and more. Against this backdrop, Polytag has released a report calling for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems to place greater emphasis on verified recycling data and digital tracking to accurately measure packaging recovery.

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The study "EPR That Works: Incentivising Real Recycling with Data and Innovation," which was released at the RECOUP Summit in February 2026, highlights the need for enhanced measuring tools to link producer payments to actual recycling results.

EPR frameworks require producers to fund the collection, sorting and recycling of packaging they introduce to the market. However, the report notes that many current systems rely on estimates or aggregated data, making it difficult to confirm whether packaging materials are truly recycled.

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Alice Rackley, CEO of Polytag, said improved data visibility could help policymakers and businesses better understand how packaging moves through waste systems.

“Technology is now enabling brands and policymakers to see, report and act across the packaging value chain in ways that simply weren’t possible before,” she said.

The report presents the "Green Plus" concept, which aims to improve existing EPR pricing systems by providing financial incentives to manufacturers who attain quantifiable, data-verified gains in recycling.

Polytag's system employs invisible ultraviolet (UV) tags on packaging, enabling tracking through the recycling process and providing verified recycling data. This initiative was supported by Ecosurety and Valpak, with endorsements from retailers such as Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, and Ocado Retail.

As EPR reforms grow in the UK and Europe, digital tracking tools may enhance transparency and support effective recycling of aluminium and steel packaging in circular economy systems.

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