What:  M&S has partnered with the recycling technology firm Polytag to track its plastic packaging.

Why it is important: This initiative is significant as it represents a proactive approach by M&S to address the single-use plastic crisis by enhancing the traceability and recycling of plastics.

Marks & Spencer (M&S) is collaborating with Polytag to implement a system that applies invisible tags to plastic containers like drink bottles and food cartons. These tags are detectable by electronic readers at recycling centers, facilitating better sorting and recycling of plastics. This system, which will soon see its large-scale deployment at M&S, helps distinguish between more valuable recyclables and those contaminated by chemicals. M&S's initiative comes ahead of new regulatory fees on plastic packaging disposal under the UK's extended producer responsibility (EPR) regime, aiming to enhance recycling infrastructure and efficiency.

M&S partners with recycling tech firm to track plastic packaging