Amcor has partnered with French snack producer Alter Eco on a paper-based and reduced weight packaging solution for its 200 gram chocolate range, said to be recyclable where recycling streams exist.
Alter Eco says its chocolate is produced using organic cacao sourced through ‘fair and transparent’ supply chains. The company aimed to redesign the packaging across its three 200-gram chocolate bar variants available on the French market, seeking to reduce packaging weight by replacing the existing cardboard sleeve and inner aluminium foil wrap while preserving the ‘premium look and feel’ consumers expect.
Working with Alter Eco and Swiss chocolate co-packer Halba, Amcor transitioned the packaging to its AmFiber Performance Paper, with the new design combining a natural kraft paper look with a matte finish. Amcor adds that one SKU containing almonds added complexity, as the packaging needed to maintain a smooth, high-quality appearance despite the product’s textured surface.
The new packaging is said to deliver high-barrier performance, providing effective protection against water vapour and grease and achieving up to 61% weight reduction compared with the previous pack. For the three redesigned packs, the resulting weight reduction was 37% for the dark dessert chocolate and 61% for the dark chocolate with whole hazelnuts and the dark chocolate with whole almonds.
Apparently, the new packs can be recycled in the paper stream in France. Amcor says the fibre used in the solution is FSC-certified, ensuring it is sourced from responsibly managed forests, and aligns with CEPI and 4evergreen guidelines.
Last year Marks & Spencer (M&S) trialled paper packaging for chocolate bars, transitioning its Vanilla Fudge Bar to paper packaging designed to be more easily recycled at kerbside and on the go. The move was anticipated to remove 1.4 million units of plastic from M&S’ Foodhall over the next 12 months.
As part of our Finalist Interview series ahead of the 2025 Sustainability Awards, we spoke to UPM about its paper chocolate packaging for the Panda brand, produced in collaboration with Orkla Suomi. The paper wrapper is said to be recyclable and does not require an additional plastic layer, due to the in-built barrier protection provided by UPM’s Asendo Pro paper.
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