M&S is trialling paper packaging for chocolate bars to remove 1.4 million units of plastic from its Foodhalls over the next 12 months.

The new paper-based packaging will launch across its Vanilla Fudge Bar, allowing it to be more easily recycled, kerbside and on the go.

If successful, the retailer plans to roll out the packaging more widely to additional bars in the range, removing a further five million units of plastic.

It comes as earlier this month, the grocer introduced new cardboard packaging for all of its Perfectly Ripe Twin Avocado packs and Ripe Avocado lines, removing an estimated seven million units of plastic.

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M&S Food head of sustainability Lucinda Langton said: “At M&S, we know our customers care deeply about reducing plastic packaging, and we’re committed to doing the right thing by finding packaging alternatives for our products.

“By making sure our products are in packaging which is as easy to recycle as possible, we are giving our customers the confidence that they can make more sustainable choices when shopping with us. This is also a key part of our Plan A roadmap to Net Zero, which will help us to meet our plastic reduction targets.”

At the end of last year, M&S met its target to remove 75 million units of plastic in 2024/25 ahead of plan.

The brand has committed to remove one billion units by the end of the 27/28 financial year, as part of its Plan A roadmap to Net Zero by 2040 and is halfway to this target with 500 million units removed by the end of March 2025.