Mars Incorporated announced it is packing its KIND snack bar utilising materials sourced from advanced recycling in order to reduce the amount of virgin plastics in its packaging portfolio.
Thanks to a ‘closed loop’ collaboration with SABIC, Landbell, Plastic Energy, Taghleef, and SIT, the new wrapper is made from mono-material propylene, which is thought to make it fully recyclable and thus eliminating the need for multi-material layers or laminated plastics. The goal is that the redesign will be a circular solution compatible with drop-off recycling in the UK and curbside recycling in Ireland.
Mars is counting on the new packaging to advance in its goals of reducing its use of virgin plastic by 25%, guarantee that all plastic packaging contains 30% recycled content, and redesigning packaging components across its portfolio to ensure its compatibility with current or future recycling infrastructure.
“At Mars, we want to contribute to a circular economy where packaging material never becomes waste, but is recycled, reused or composted,” said Barry Parkin, chief procurement and sustainability officer. “For this to happen, we need new solutions and infrastructure to change the recycling landscape and to complement mechanical recycling.
“Today marks another important step in accelerating our sustainable packaging journey and in our collaboration with partners like SABIC that are enabling new opportunities to provide consumers with packaging designed for circularity.”
Lada Kurelec, general manager PP, PET, PS, PVC, PU & Elastomers Business for Petrochemicals at SABIC, added: “We are very excited about this pioneering closed-loop project that demonstrates the feasibility and speed of implementing circular plastic innovations when leading actors from across the entire value chain are closely collaborating. Used flexible packaging has a high feedstock value for new materials, and our TRUCIRCLE polymers and services form an instrumental element in tapping this vast potential.”
“At KIND, we are committed to making our packaging as sustainable as it can be,” concluded Peter Morris, general manager at KIND Snacks UK. “This announcement marks the latest milestone towards achieving this vision, and we look forward to driving further positive and long-lasting changes to our packaging in the future.”