Packaging manufacturer Berry Global has collaborated with snacks and sweets producer Mars to launch its pantry jars for M&M’S, Skittles and Starburst brands to 100% recycled plastic packaging, excluding jar lids.
The announcement advances the ongoing collaboration between Berry and Mars to develop packaging made with recycled content and builds on a previous launch of the pantry jars with 15% recycled plastic in 2022. The updated jars are now rolling out across the United States.
The partners said the jars are ‘widely recyclable’ and incorporate mechanically processed recycled content. They will eliminate more than 1,300 tonnes of virgin plastic annually.
Berry produces the jars using certified food-grade mechanically recycled resin sourced from kerbside collection streams. Leveraging its material science expertise and technical resources, Berry collaborated with Mars to create a solution to further their mutual sustainability goals without impacting product quality.
“As companies across the globe commit to transitioning to a circular economy, the ability to deliver products made with recycled materials at scale is crucial,” said Peter Goshorn, vice president of food, beverage & spirits for Berry Global’s consumer packaging North America division. “That’s why we’re collaborating with leading brands, like Mars, to significantly increase the use of recycled content to drive responsible business growth without compromising performance or aesthetics.”
As part of its Sustainable Packaging Plan, Mars has been redesigning its packaging portfolio to reduce plastic packaging and redesign packaging to ensure it can be reusable, recyclable or compostable. Mars has been partnering with Berry since 2017 to innovate sustainable packaging.
Nonetheless, the 2024 Global Commitment progress report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF) showed that Mars, alongside PepsiCo and The Coca-Cola Company, increased its use of virgin plastic between their baseline year and 2023 by 5%.
The launch comes as Amcor’s takeover of Berry recently won shareholder approval on both sides.
Find Berry at PRSE: stand B120