The new pilot is in partnership with retail giant Tesco and will take place in a small number of stores across the UK from January 2022.
The paper inner will replace the plastic sack that is not currently widely accepted in kerbside recycling. If successful, the company plans to roll out cereal packaging that is fully paper-based. Several years ago, Kellogg’s switched to outer card packaging, which is fully recyclable.
The results will help to shape Kellogg’s future packaging plans to reach its 2025 target. The move is also part of Kellogg’s Wellbeing Manifesto launched in May, which embraces a decade-long action plan to improve its food and packaging that benefit both people and the planet.
Silver lining?
A switch from plastic to paper is not as easy as it seems.
Kellogg’s packaging technologists have had to overcome numerous challenges, including ensuring the paper-based inner survived the filling process and sealing under mass production situations in the factory, along with transportation to retailers.
The cereal, too, needed to be safely cushioned and kept fresh for its entire 12-month shelf life.
The company said the results of the trial are crucial as it plans for fully recyclable cereal packaging – even if that’s still plastic liners that are able to be recycled at kerbside, similar to the situation in Ireland and Belgium.
“We know people want to do more to help the planet and that’s why we are working hard towards meeting our commitment of all Kellogg’s packaging being reusable, recyclable or compostable by the end of 2025. This important trial of fully paper cereal packaging ensures we have explored all our options,” said Chris Silcock, MD of Kellogg UK and Ireland.
“Ultimately, we would prefer plastic liners to be accepted in home recycling as our data tells us that they are better for the planet over the full life cycle of the packaging, but this trial ensures we have an alternative.”
Call out for others to follow suit
Tesco grocery director David Beardmore added, “We are committed to working with our suppliers to remove, reduce, reuse and recycle packaging, particularly plastic.
“It’s great to see that Kellogg is trialling a paper cereal bag in our stores – our customers will be pleased that they can easily recycle the bag at home. We call on suppliers to test and roll out actions like this; using as little material as possible and making sure that necessary packaging is easy to recycle.”
Kellogg and Tesco have previously partnered on several packaging initiatives, including trialling a fully recyclable Pringle’s paper can in 2020.
