Mars Wrigley UK has announced the removal of the black polyethylene (PE) liner from its Maltesers boxes, eliminating 82 tonnes of plastic a year.
The removal of all PE from all Malteser boxes will result in the whole box itself being fully-recyclable.
The move will allow 930 tonnes of cardboard used to make Maltesers boxes each year to be eligible for recycling at kerbside for UK homes, as currently, the plastic film which covers the box is not currently widely recyclable.
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“At Mars, we take our responsibility for sustainable packaging seriously, and today’s announcement that our iconic Maltesers box is now fully recyclable is another important step in our journey toward packaging that is 100 per cent reusable, recyclable or compostable,” Mars UK general manager Adam Grant said.
The move follows supermarkets being told to “do more” to cut down on plastic after six in 10 customers said they wanted to see more progress.
The poll, by tech company Toluna, showed 65 per cent of shoppers believe there are not enough plastic-free products for sale.
Around 44 per cent said they found it easier to avoid single-use plastic compared to five years ago.
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