UK – British snack food manufacturer, Walkers is trialing new multipack packaging for its Snack A Jacks range, Jacks that reportedly use 86 percent less plastic on the outer packaging.
The new packaging format is now available to buy exclusively at Tesco stores across the UK across three popular flavors: Salt & Vinegar, Sour Cream & Chive and BBQ.
The new outer tape as well as the individual packets qualify as officially recyclable under the UK On-Pack Recycling Label Scheme (OPRL) and can be recycled at flexible packaging collection points in supermarkets across the UK.
It marks Walkers’ third major sustainable packaging trial with Tesco in recent months, after the two companies trialed a new cardboard design on Walkers’ multipacks to replace its outer plastic packaging, and piloted paper-based outer packaging earlier this year for Walkers Baked multipacks.
The trial has been made possible by the company investing over £2 million in new equipment to enhance reduced plastic packaging capabilities at Walkers’ Skelmersdale site in Lancashire, where Snack A Jacks are made.
It forms part of PepsiCo Positive, Walkers’ parent company’s health and sustainability transformation plan, which includes an ambition of reaching net zero emissions by 2040.
Across PepsiCo Europe, the company also plans to eliminate virgin fossil-based plastic in crisp and snack bags by 2030.
This ambition will apply to UK brands including Snack A Jacks, Walkers, Doritos, Quavers, Wotsits, and Pipers, and will be delivered by using 100% recycled or renewable content.
Gareth Callan, packaging sustainability lead, PepsiCo UK & Ireland said: “Our new bagless multipack design is an innovative example of the solutions we’re exploring to reduce virgin fossil plastic use across our portfolio.
“We’re looking forward to assessing this new format as part of our commitment to creating a world where packaging never becomes waste.”
This announcement follows Mars’ move to roll out a trial that will see its chocolate bars wrapped in recyclable paper packaging in the UK.
The trial will take place for a limited time and the Mars bars with paper packaging will be found in Tesco stores during the pilot which aims to explore different packaging options.
Mars bars’ current plastic wrappers cannot be recycled, as is the case with several other kinds of food packaging.
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