Mars Wrigley, one of the world’s leading confectionery manufacturers, has announced plans for its famous Skittles brand to switch to compostable packaging.
The US giant has teamed up with Danimer Scientific – a leading developer and manufacturer of biodegradable material – for a two-year partnership that they believe will “develop an innovative home compostable packaging for a more sustainable planet.”
The first brand to get the eco-packaging treatment will be Skittles, enabling their US consumers to enjoy a more environmentally-friendly sweet treat.
Mars aims to leverage the company’s global portfolio of iconic treats and snacks to enable consumers to compost at home, working together with consumers and supply-chain partners to support a healthy planet.
“The impact of plastic on nature is one of the major sustainability challenges of our generation,” said Alastair Child, Mars Wrigley VP of Global Sustainability.
“There are no simple solutions and transformational innovation is necessary, we have to think and act differently. Collaborating with Danimer to advance this breakthrough technology represents a major step to creating positive societal impact and better environmental outcomes across the full lifecycle of small, flexible packaging.”
The new Skittles packets will be made of Nodax polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) – a biodegradable material which the manufacturers claim will “reliably break down in both industrial composting facilities and backyard compost units”, to offer a greener packaging solution to “environmentally-conscious consumers and retailers.”
The material – which Danimer Scientific describes as its “signature packaging” – is produced through natural fermentation processes, using plant oils such as soy and canola, to produce packaging that biodegrades in both soil and marine environments.
Mars says it will continue to evaluate opportunities to scale this novel, innovative and sustainable packaging technology across its portfolio of brands and categories, through both flexible and rigid packaging.
“Expectations for sustainable packaging vary from market to market, making it essential for new materials to be adaptable in meeting different standards without sacrificing quality,” said Stephen Croskrey, CEO at Danimer Scientific.
“PHA provides a versatile platform for manufacturing material that is renewably sourced and leaves a minimal impact on the environment upon disposal. We look forward to working with Mars Wrigley in fighting the global crisis of plastic waste.”
Image courtesy of Mars Wrigley.
