Berry Global has collaborated with Mars to transition its pantry jars for M&M’s, Skittles and Starburst brands to 100% recycled plastic packaging (excluding jar lids).
The pantry jars are said to be widely recyclable and come in 60-, 81- and 87-ounce sizes. The move to 100% recycled plastic incorporates mechanically processed recycled content which Mars claims will eliminate more than 1,300 metric tons of virgin plastic annually.
Apparently, the post-consumer resin material used for the jars is made from recycled plastics collected from consumers, aiming to help prevent plastic waste from entering landfills, decrease virgin plastic consumption and reduce emissions. Mars gives the example of a consumer placing the lid back on the container once empty and putting it in a recycling bin, so the plastic can then be used to make new products.
Mars says the square jars are produced at Berry’s manufacturing facility using ‘certified food-grade’ mechanically recycled resin, sourced from kerbside collection streams.
Allison Lin, global vice president of Packaging Sustainability at Mars. “Reducing our virgin plastic usage by investing in recycled content is an important step in our strategy, alongside initiatives to remove unnecessary packaging, explore reuse models and redesign our packaging for circularity. Using recycled content incentivizes increased collection systems and recycling infrastructure, which is essential for a circular economy.”
Berry and Stora Enso designed a custom pot last year for Finnish brand Valio’s PROfeel protein puddings, seeking to help the company meet its goal of reducing plastic usage by 15% in its single-use single-serve packaging by 2026. The pot design also aims to reduce food waste and features improved print quality, including a printable bottom surface for mandatory product information.
Also in 2024, Walkers Chocolates announced it was switching its Turkish Delight and Mint Cream chocolate to 100% kerbside recyclable paper wrappers. The technology used in paper wrapper is said to provide protection from oxygen, enable sealability on standard packaging equipment and facilitate easy printing.
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