MasterFoods has launched a pioneering trial of paper-based, recyclable single-serve Squeeze-On Tomato Sauce packs in Australia, reducing plastic content by 58 per cent.
The new paper-based packs, made at Mars Food & Nutrition’s Wyong manufacturing site on the Central Coast, are designed to be fully recyclable through traditional kerbside recycling.
This trial is a major milestone in Mars Australia’s commitment to creating a circular economy and supporting Australia’s National Packaging Targets, the company said in a media release.
“The trial of paper-based MasterFoods Recyclable Squeeze-On Tomato Sauce packs marks another important milestone in Mars’ sustainability journey, and demonstrates the role the food industry can play in working towards a circular economy,” said Bill Heague, General Manager of Mars Food & Nutrition Australia.
“Currently, over 240 million of our MasterFoods Squeeze-On packs are used each year – that’s nine packs for every Australian. We know that as we work towards more sustainable packaging, it’s important that we understand how it performs in market – with consumers, customers and through the packaging value chain.”
The development of the paper-based packs is the result of five years of research and development, with $3 million invested so far.
“This trial will allow us to better understand how this new paper-recyclable squeeze-on performs so we can take these learnings forwards. If we transition our full portfolio to this new format over time, Mars Australia would be set to eliminate around 190 tonnes of plastic from our value chain a year,” said Heague.
The trial is conducted in partnership with the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), with the goal of collecting valuable data on the consumer disposal behaviour of the new pack format to determine recyclability.
This will include insights on how best to educate consumers on the importance of recycling the product.
Chris Foley, CEO of APCO, commented, “I commend Mars for collaborating with APCO throughout the development process, taking a thoughtful and iterative approach to trial and refine the new packaging format.”
“By focusing on real-world testing, this trial will help ensure the packaging can be effectively recycled post-consumer use. We look forward to seeing the results and continuing to support their efforts in achieving the best environmental outcomes for their packaging.”
The new packaging was designed and produced in collaboration with Easysnap Technology, an Italian packaging company known for its recyclable, one-handed packaging solutions.
Easysnap Technology’s CEO, Andrea Taglini, said,“This partnership with MasterFoods is a really exciting moment for Easysnap Technology. In order to create a truly circular economy, we need packaging producers, brand owners, customers and the waste industry to work together.”
“Our paper-based technology has been designed to ensure that there is a more sustainable option for consumers and we are delighted that we get to introduce this to Australians for the first time.”
The paper-based packs will be trialled from November 2024 through to April 2025, with over a million units being evaluated by consumers across various locations, including sporting stadiums, petrol stations, mining sites, and pie shops.
