Plans For More Sustainable Packaging
See our plan in action and learn more about our
plans for Mars packaging.
Packaging waste is a challenge requiring new solutions.
Packaging waste is a global problem that threatens our oceans and the health of the planet.
Addressing the sustainability of our packaging is a complex challenge, shaped by government regulation, local infrastructure, consumer behavior and industry collaboration. For Mars, we’re taking action to support the circular economy through investments and innovation, working toward a world where packaging material never becomes waste, but instead is reused, recycled or composted. We are even holding ourselves accountable by linking executive variable pay with our packaging targets.
Our Progress so far
Which has been made possible through the collective effort of hundreds of Mars Associates and hundreds of millions of dollars in investment.
64.1% designed for circularity
64.1% of consumer facing packaging1 is designed to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable.
7% of recycled content
We are using over 14,000 metric tons of recycled content in our plastic portfolio, which equates to 7% of our portfolio.
1. By weight, excluding tertiary and transport packaging. Our reportable data includes the consumer-packaged goods within our Mars Snacking, Mars Petcare and Mars Food segments. The Mars Science and Diagnostics and the Mars Veterinary Health businesses are not in scope.
See our progress as we work toward more sustainable packaging
KIND®
KIND®
We introduced our first curbside recyclable paper wrapper pilot for KIND® snack bars in the U.S.
PEDIGREE
PEDIGREE
We concluded our SWAP Recycling Program in partnership with Chiang Mai’s local government by inaugurating a new dog park equipped with sustainable, pet-friendly amenities in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
MASTERFOODS
MASTERFOODS
We trialed new paper-based packaging for MASTERFOODS® Squeeze-On Tomato Sauce packs in Australia.
M&M'S®
M&M'S®
We collaborated with Berry Global to transition pantry jars for M&M’S®, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® brands to 100% recycled plastic packaging, exclusive of jar lids.
Schmackos
Schmackos
The Schmackos brand switched its 200g and 500g single variety packs of Strapz and Stix to packaging made from 60% recycled plastic through a mass balance approach.
SNICKERS
SNICKERS
We launched recyclable, paper-based packaging for SNICKERS®, MARS BAR® and MILKY WAY® in Australia.
Our Strategy
We are transforming our portfolio to tackle the challenge of packaging waste. To achieve this, we have developed a three-pillar strategy that consists of eliminating unnecessary packaging, redesigning our remaining packaging for circularity, and investing to close the loop.
Eliminate unnecessary packaging from our portfolio
Our highest priority is to eliminate all problematic and unnecessary packaging materials from our portfolio, to help prevent any of our waste products from contaminating the recycling stream or causing environmental harm, and to significantly reduce our use of virgin plastic (plastic material that has not been previously used or recycled).
Where possible we aim to remove material such as plastic from our packaging without replacing it with another packaging material such as paper. This can be achieved in several ways, such as through ‘light-weighting’, where we strip away material from the package, making it thinner and lighter. We are also exploring new materials that can replace the use of some plastics.
Another way to eliminate unnecessary packaging waste is to make a package reusable(Opens a new window), meaning you can hold onto the pack and refill it as many times as you choose, or return it so that it can be washed, resealed, and purchased again.
Reusable containers are the oldest form of packaging. Reuse became less common in recent decades, as packaging prioritized convenience, cost, and product safety. With a renewed global interest in circularity and waste reduction, we’re excited about the return to reuse, and the potential of modern reuse systems.
Reuse is an exciting packaging solution because it eliminates waste, but it may not be appropriate for every situation. All reusable packaging is part of a reuse system, and the total environmental impact of this system must be considered when evaluating whether a shift from single use to reuse is more sustainable.
An example of this is a reusable container that is collected after use, washed, and refilled. In this scenario the additional collection step has an associated greenhouse gas impact, and the washing step increases water usage. These impacts mean that the package will require a minimum number of reuse cycles before it becomes more sustainable than a single use package.
Redesigning our remaining packaging for a circular economy
We are redesigning packaging types across our diverse portfolio to fit with the recycling infrastructure that either exists today or is likely to exist in the future in the markets where we operate, making it easier for consumers to recycle our packaging. We’re also transitioning some of our packaging into plastic alternatives such as paper and compostable materials.
Packaging that is made up of multiple different materials such as plastic, paper and aluminium can’t be sorted into a single material recycling stream. This is why we’re working to remove multi-material packaging from our portfolio and shifting to mono-material packs(Opens a new window), which can be more easily sorted and recycled in all types of recycling methods. This transformation is part of our commitment to redesign a significant portion of our packaging portfolio to align with the Consumer Goods Forum Golden Design Rules(Opens a new window).
Redesigning a package so that it uses just one material may seem simple but can be difficult to achieve. Each of the layers adds a functionality, such as moisture barrier, tear resistance, and ink printing. Replacing these materials requires ground-breaking, innovative material science, which is the daily work of hundreds of Mars Associates in partnership with our suppliers, universities, and NGOs.
Before a package can be recycled it needs to be put in the right bin. Waste systems vary around the world; a package that can go in the recycling bin at one location may need to be placed in the general waste bin elsewhere. That’s why we’re working to provide location-based guidance on all our products in major markets, ensuring that you have the information you need to dispose of our packaging correctly.
Did you know?
Some countries have mandatory requirements for labelling packaging recyclability (e.g., France’s Triman logo), some countries have voluntary market schemes in place (e.g., OPRL in the UK and How2Recycle in the US), and most countries have no harmonized labelling standards. In line with the Consumer Goods Forum’s Golden Design Rules(Opens a new window), Mars is working to develop a global approach that will provide clear guidance, reduce confusion and result in less packaging contaminating other recyclables or being littered.
While much of our portfolio is in flexible packaging because it is lightweight and has great barrier properties, we are eager to develop packaging solutions that can reduce our reliance on virgin plastic. One strategy for achieving these goals will be to replace some of our plastic packaging with recyclable or compostable paper-based packaging.
While paper is made of renewable resources, we must respect the forests where we are sourcing this material. Mars is careful to select paper sources that have been certified by trusted third-party organizations, like the Forest Stewardship Council. These certifications provide assurances related to deforestation-free sourcing, biodiversity conservation, fair wages, and community rights. We are continually innovating with our suppliers to improve the performance and environmental footprint of paper.
Did you know?
We’re often asked why we don’t make all our packaging out of paper. Paper is a great packaging material for many applications but does come with its own challenges. It can require more water to produce than flexible plastic. It also can take up more space, reducing the amount of packaging that can be transported in a container, and it isn’t well suited to containing and protecting wet products.
Another exciting alternative to plastic is compostable material, which is designed to quickly decompose either within contained home composting systems or via an industrial composting process.
Compostable materials are potentially an effective way to reduce the environmental damage caused by packaging waste for specific products and settings. Most of our consumers do not currently have access to an industrial composting program in their community, but we are advocating for this infrastructure to develop and researching materials that will be best suited for this future system.
Did you know?
One of the biggest challenges in designing products made with compostable packaging is making them long lasting and durable enough to protect the product until it’s needed, while at the same time being able to degrade quickly once used. One factor that significantly impacts this is the climate – a compostable package that will be sold in a humid and hot environment needs to be designed differently to a package that will be sold somewhere that is cool and dry.
Closing the loop, where packaging never becomes waste
We are actively working to drive true systems change through partnerships with governments, NGOs, suppliers, packaging developers, and industry. We are investing in recycled content and signalling our intent to buy in order to drive new investments in recycling technologies. And we’re calling for the improvement of these systems through legislation and industry collaboration to ensure adequate supply of food-safe recycled content.
Recycled content(Opens a new window) is material that is created from previously used products and packaging. We are committed to significantly reducing our use of virgin plastic by incorporating 30% recycled content across our packaging.
By purchasing recycled content, we increase the demand for packaging to be collected and recycled so that it can be turned into recycled material. This stimulates the growth of infrastructure globally and furthers our goal to support the development of a circular economy where packaging never becomes waste.
Did you know?
There are two major types of recycling: mechanical recycling and advanced recycling. In the former case plastics are shredded, washed, and melted into a new plastic material. There is increasing innovation in the mechanical recycling process to improve the quality of mechanically recycled content, increasing the amount that is applicable for food contact applications.
Rather than physically shredding material, Advanced Recycling breaks plastic back down into its molecular components. In this way the material is returned to its original state, and therefore the resulting product is very pure, which means that it can be used in a wider range of packaging applications. However, Advanced Recycling infrastructure is far less developed globally; there is significant investment and capacity growth ongoing to scale the solution, which should complement rather than replace existing Mechanical Recycling infrastructure.
In March 2022 Mars along with 15 other CGF Coalition members released a co-authored paper(Opens a new window) which encourages the development of new plastics recycling technologies that meet six key principles for credible, safe, and environmentally sound development.
Fixing the challenge of packaging waste cannot be done by businesses alone. Mars is driving several progressive waste management partnerships with governments, NGOs, suppliers, packaging manufacturers and designers, and peer companies to collectively call for this change. Mars is a partner and advisory board member of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF) New Plastic Economy initiative, as well as a signatory of its Global Commitment(Opens a new window). We’re also an active member of the Consumer Goods Forum Plastic Waste Coalition(Opens a new window), and actively support both the CGF Golden Design rules(Opens a new window), and Extended Producer Responsibility principles(Opens a new window).
Did you know?
Regardless of our redesign efforts, our products will only be recycled if the necessary collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure exists at scale. One way to fund the growth of these systems is through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), a policy approach that gives manufacturers some fiscal responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products throughout the products’ lifecycle, including recycling.
EPR is typically implemented as a fee that producers must pay per ton of packaging sold; often this fee varies depending on the packaging material, with easier-to-recycle materials costing less. This encourages manufacturers to design products that are easier to recycle or dispose of and to take responsibility for the end-of-life management of their products.
At Mars, we support fair and transparent extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes that help fund the development of recycling infrastructure.
