Mars Pet Nutrition, a division of Mars Petcare, continues to reduce packaging waste in Europe with leading brands SHEBA®, WHISKAS®, PERFECT FIT™ and CATSAN™ saving 480 tons of plastic per year.
New measures in the Irish market include new Pedigree Schmackos 20 stick packs and megaboxes which are set to be introduced in 2023, with over 230kg of plastic and 600kg of cardboard waste expected to be saved as a result. This follows the successful introduction of new DREAMIES® packaging last year, which saved the equivalent of 8,000 plastic bottles worth of plastic in Ireland in 2022.
These Irish measures are part of wider European initiatives to remove excess packaging - Mars Pet Nutrition Europe also transformed its SHEBA® and PERFECT FIT™ Mini Pouches last year, replacing plastic flow-wraps with high performing and widely recyclable paper sleeves.
WHISKAS® dry food plastic bags have also been replaced with carton boxes in select European markets, and CATSAN™ cat litter brand has removed unnecessary layers of plastic in its secondary packaging on a trial basis in France**.
These initiatives contributed to saving a total of 480 tons of plastic per year, equal to the weight of 1.6 million dog food bags. This is in addition to the 170 tons of plastic removed from Mars Pet Nutrition packaging in Europe in 2021.
These moves towards more sustainable packaging are all part of Mars’ global ambition to have 100% of its packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.
Providing more sustainable choices to pet owners is a key priority for Mars Petcare, with approximately 45% of pet owners indicating their preference for sustainable packaging, while 60% are looking for ways to reduce their plastic usage[1].
Nicola Forde, Corporate Affairs Manager at Mars North Europe said: “At Mars, we have long demonstrated our commitment to a cleaner planet, including through localised campaigns such as Neat Streets, Green Schools and the Gum Litter Taskforce. The introduction of sustainable packaging to the Mars Pet Nutrition division is part of a wider shift towards a circular business model, where Mars continues to be an industry leader. This move is the latest in an ongoing list of actions that demonstrate our genuine commitment to achieving the Mars’ Sustainable in a Generation Plan.”
Deri Watkins, Regional President at Mars Pet Nutrition Europe said: “Packaging waste is a global problem and does not align with Mars’ vision for a world where the planet is healthy. That’s why we continue to take action to support a circular economy, for a world where packaging materials do not become waste, but ultimately are reused, recycled, or composted. Moving forward, we will continue to transform our business in ways that help protect our environment and care for people and pets by engaging with our trade partners and using our influence to drive change at scale.”
Helen Warren-Piper, Chief Growth Officer at Mars Pet Nutrition Europe said: “Our packaging transformation journey focuses on doing what’s right for the pet parents we serve, the pets we love and the planet we all share. We’re excited to bring innovative and sustainable options to pet parents who are not only looking for high-quality and delicious pet food, but also seeking ways to reduce their impact on the environment. Through the initiatives we’re rolling out across Europe, we’re glad to be part of this equation.”
Across the wider Mars brand, changes to reduce plastic packaging are also underway – Mars Wrigley Australia has unveiled new paper-based wrappers for its Mars Bars, Snickers and Milky Way products to be launched in April 2023, with plans to launch in New Zealand in June 2023, before extending to the European market.
