Nestlé has announced that its Smarties brand is now using recyclable paper packaging for its confectionery products worldwide, becoming the first confectionery brand to make the move.
The transformation of the Smarties packaging is only one of the brands’ ‘SMART Initiatives’, which aim to support sustainability and enhance the overall product experience.
According to the company, this represents a transition of 90 per cent of the Smarties range, as 10 per cent was previously already packed in recyclable paper packaging.
It added that Smarties will remove approximately 250 million plastic packs sold globally every year as a result of making the switch.
It follows the news from Nestlé introducing Smarties sharing block packed in recyclable paper in the UK last year.
Nestlé global head of confectionery Alexander von Maillot said, “Shifting Smarties packaging to recyclable paper is one of our key sustainable packaging initiatives in the confectionery category.
“It is a further step in realising Nestlé’s ambition to make all of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025 and to reduce its use of virgin plastics by one third in the same period.”
The new Smarties paper packaging is sourced sustainably, according to the company, and is made of a coated paper, paper labels or carton board. Information about how to properly dispose of Smarties paper packaging is also included on its labels to raise consumer awareness.
Louise Barrett, head of the Nestlé Confectionery Product Technology Centre in York, said, “Developing safe and convenient paper-based solutions for Smarties has required the pioneering of new materials and testing by Nestlé packaging experts at our R&D Center for confectionery in York, UK and the Swiss-based Institute of Packaging Sciences.
“We adapted our existing manufacturing lines to allow for the careful handling that is required for paper, while also ensuring recyclability across all new formats.”
Nestlé also mentioned that it has “invested significantly” to upgrade its factories globally, including in Hamburg, Germany, one of the company’s largest factories for confectionery products.
