“Mars introduces environmentally friendly packaging for chocolate bars”

It is one of the first stages of a pilot project, testing a more environmentally friendly packaging of chocolate bars from the company “Mars Food”. The chocolates in the new packages appeared in 500 “Tesco” chain supermarkets in Great Britain from May 29, according to the BBC.

“Mars Food” follows in the footsteps of competitor “Nestle”. The company uses paper packaging for “Smarties” candies since January 2021, and for most chocolate candies from “Quality Street” sets – from December 2022.

Nine of the 11 popular “Quality Street” candies are now sold in paper wrappers (with a cardboard box inside). The other two candies (Orange Crunch and Green Triangle) are still wrapped in foil, but the foil is accepted for recycling in the UK.

The company “Mars” stated that it was not easy to find a suitable paper packaging solution with “a sufficient level of the necessary characteristics to protect the chocolate”.

The current “Mars” plastic packaging is not recyclable, as are many other types of packaging, including crisp bags and many other chocolate bar and candy wrappers. Masses of these materials accumulate in landfills and pollute soil and water.

According to the UK Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the problem with single-use plastic waste is that it doesn’t break down, it just breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces. This greatly pollutes the environment and wildlife for many years to come.

In January, the British government announced its intention to ban the use of single-use plastics, such as plastic cutlery, plates and trays made of polystyrene. The date when the ban will take effect has not yet been determined. Plastic straws were banned in the UK in 2020.

Meanwhile, in January, France banned the use of single-use plastic in takeaway establishments.
“Mars Incorporated” has announced that thanks to the new packaging, “200 million bars per year will become carbon neutral in the UK, Ireland and Canada”.

Andrew Flood, packaging development manager at supermarket chain Tesco, said he was delighted to be working with Mars, adding that the initiative was in line with Tesco’s strategy to move away from plastic and unnecessary product packaging.