Mars Petcare has revealed it will replace shrink film with cardboard across all mixed multi-pack cans of Pedigree, Chappie, Kitekat and Whiskas in the UK, removing 180 tonnes of plastic annually.
The new, fully-recyclable cardboard packaging will be widely available from September 11 and will remove 15 million individual pieces of plastic every year.
“At Mars Petcare we’re on a mission to future proof the growing pet population and industry,” Mars Petcare interim general manager Kim Smet said.
“The switch from shrink-wrap to cardboard is an important step in helping us achieve our goal of 100% recyclable packaging by 2025.”
“We know that over the past year alone the UK’s pet population has sky-rocketed to an all-time high, tipping 20 million dogs and cats – nearly a third of the size of the UK human population, so as an industry our sustainability efforts must reflect this and improve, at speed, to create the world we want tomorrow.”
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The news comes as Mars Petcare unveiled its recycling programme in partnership with Pets at Home which saw dedicated in-store recycling points for pet food packaging introduced across 40 UK stores.
The FMCG brand also partnered with Big 4 grocer Asda to trial in-store refill zones with its Whiskas and Pedigree products.
Pedigree Schmackos packaging was also reduced by 12 per cent, alongside all Dreamies 60g packs becoming thinner, resulting in a combined 27.6 tonnes of virgin plastic saved in the UK, according to the company.
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