Mars Wrigley UK has today announced a trial in Tesco stores to pilot a new material made from cocoa bean shells for promotional displays – a global first for the confectionery category.
The new material, dubbed ‘Bean Board’, is made from 70% recycled paper and 30% waste cocoa bean shells. The displays have been developed in conjunction with Medoola, ECOR, and strategic display production partner DS Smith.
According to an end-to-end life cycle assessment undertaken by the company, when compared with an equivalent corrugated board display, typically used across the retail industry, the production of this new design requires the use of 93% less land – with no virgin tree fibres being used.
Adam Grant, general manager for Mars Wrigley UK, says: “At Mars Wrigley, we’re on a mission to future proof the growing confectionery category. While we’ve typically been focused on sustainable innovation from bean to the bar, we’re now looking further to explore new routes beyond our direct supply chain.
“The new ‘Bean Board’ material is a prime example of how FMCG manufacturers can look beyond their production line to help create the world we want tomorrow and we’re looking forward to seeing how the trial goes so that the wider industry can also benefit from using the new material.”
