Mars China has unveiled a new SNICKERS bar that comes in packaging made from a mono polypropylene (PP) material, designed with recycling in mind. Unlike traditional flexible packaging, which consists of multiple layers of different materials and poses challenges for recycling, mono-material flexible packaging is composed of a single plastic component, making it easier to recycle and reducing its environmental impact.
The individually wrapped SNICKERS bar packaging aligns with the concept of “Designed For Recycling” and meets Chinese recycling standards, with Mars China implementing rigorous internal validation and quality standards to ensure food safety. The outer packaging box of the SNICKERS bar also incorporates Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper, reducing reliance on plastic and supporting sustainable forest management. This packaging initiative reflects Mars’ commitment to sustainable packaging and their vision of creating a future where no packaging becomes waste.
To address the challenges surrounding plastic flexible packaging collection and recycling, Mars China has joined forces with the Green Recycled Plastic Supply Chain Joint Working Group (GRPG), China Plastic Recycling Association of China National Resources Recycling Association (CRPA), P&G, PepsiCo, and Dow to launch the “Flexible Plastics Reborn” project. This collaborative effort aims to establish a closed-loop system for the sustainable collection and recycling of flexible plastic packaging in China, considering design, collection, and recycling challenges. The mono-material flexible packaging used for the new SNICKERS bar has been specifically designed to meet the recycling requirements of the “Flexible Plastics Reborn” project.
