Walkers

Walkers has announced the rollout of new paper outer bags for all Snack A Jacks multipacks, set to reduce the brand’s use of virgin plastic by 65 tonnes per year. 

The new packaging format will be available in the next month across Snack A Jacks’ Salt & Vinegar, Sour Cream & Chive and BBQ flavours. Apparently, the outer paper bag can be widely recycled in home recycling bins, collected at kerbside alongside other paper packaging, and is set to lower the greenhouse gas emissions of each pack by 52%. 

This latest move forms part of PepsiCo Positive, the health and sustainability transformation plan from Walkers’ parent company, which includes an ambition of reaching net zero emissions by 2040. It follows the introduction of the format for all Walkers Baked multipacks last year. 

Across PepsiCo Europe, the company also plans to eliminate fossil-based plastic in crisp and snack bags by 2030. This ambition applies to UK brands including Snack A Jacks, Walkers, Doritos, Quavers, Wotsits, and Pipers, and will be delivered by using 100% recycled or renewable content. 

UK packaging sustainability lead at PepsiCo, Gareth Callan, said: “Our outer paper multibag packs are working well on Walkers Baked, giving us the confidence to roll out this format across more of our snacks brands. The new packaging will help further reduce our non-fossil plastic use, while also helping to lower our carbon footprint as we work towards our commitment to creating a world where packaging never becomes waste.” 

Last year, PepsiCo released paperboard wraps and clips for its beverages across the US and Canada, hoping to eliminate plastic rings in its multipacks by rolling out ‘recyclable’ paper-based alternatives. The development is expected to cut millions of pounds of plastics from PepsiCo’s North American packaging. 

More recently, Quaker Oats announced its transition to paper packaging across its porridge put range, aiming to streamline recyclability and remove a yearly estimate of up to 200 tonnes of plastic. It is hoped the new packaging will cut down on virgin plastic use in porridge pots sold across the UK, with Quaker Oats thought to constitute up to 47% of the country’s porridge pot market. 

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