Mars Wrigley Australia Switches to Paper-Based Wrappers
Mars Wrigley Australia has announced a significant step forward in its sustainability journey by pledging to convert all Australian-made chocolate bars to paper-based packaging that can be recycled through traditional kerbside recycling.
“As one of the largest snack and treat manufacturers in Australia, Mars has a responsibility to reduce our environmental footprint right across our business, including packaging. The launch of our new paper-based packaging is a significant step for us towards our local and global packaging targets,” said Andrew Leakey, Mars Wrigley Australia, General Manager.
Once fully transitioned to paper-based packaging, Mars Wrigley expects to eliminate more than 360 t of plastic from its value chain—enough to stretch from Melbourne to London and back. This will help it reach its goal of making a circular economy and the national packaging goals for 2025.
The sustainably sourced packaging is widely recyclable through comingled recycling bins and paper/cardboard recycling bins across Australia, thanks to extensive R&D trials and locally driven innovation from Mars Wrigley's manufacturing site in Ballarat, allowing consumers to easily recycle the packaging via their kerbside recycling bin.
“Mars’ ongoing investment in local R&D has allowed us to be agile and create solutions that have a positive impact on our environment, meet our stringent quality and food safety standards but are also convenient for our consumers to recycle via kerbside recycling. This was crucially important for us as we wanted to ensure consumers had easy access to recycle our new paper-based packaging,” Leakey said.
The project's research and development (R&D) team in Ballarat is pioneering paper-based sustainable packaging solutions for Mars Wrigley's business all over the world. Mars Wrigley will share and use the technologies, insights, and lessons learned and used in Australia in other markets around the world.
According to Chris Foley, CEO of APCO, Mars Wrigley's new packaging is a perfect example of food industry innovation to fulfil packaging standards.
“Mars Wrigley’s switch to paper-based packaging sets an excellent example to all businesses in Australia of the critical role innovative packaging formats that are more readily recyclable play in meeting the 2025 National Packaging Targets.
“The incorporation of our Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) on Mars Wrigley’s paper-based packaging will also help to provide clear instructions to consumers on how to recycle with both ease and confidence,” Foley said.
The CEO of FSC Australia and New Zealand, Melanie Robertson, said, “Mars Wrigley’s transition to FSC-certified paper packaging sends an essential message about the importance of choosing forest-friendly alternatives to single-use plastics. FSC ANZ is proud to partner with Mars Wrigley and congratulates them on this demonstration of support for the responsible management of the world’s forests.”
Mars Wrigley is committed to helping and building a circular economy where packaging never becomes garbage as part of the company's $1 billion Sustainable in a Generation plan.
From April 2023, Mars Wrigley's paper-based packaging will be available on 47 and 64 g Mars Bars, 44 and 64 g Snickers, and Milky Way 45 g at all major supermarkets and convenience stores across the country.
Source: Food Processing
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