In the third edition of this year’s Confectionery Conversation – a monthly column which shines a spotlight on the confectionery category, sponsored by Mars Wrigley International Travel Retail – Charlotte Turner asks suppliers what they are doing to reduce, re-use and recycle plastic.

 

*This column first appeared in the March issue of TRBusiness magazine.

 

The issue of single-use plastic waste and sustainability have both risen to top of the agenda for the travel retail industry inside the last couple of years, gaining momentum particularly within the last 12 months.

 

It has certainly become of critical importance to TRBusiness as a magazine; the evidence of which can be found inside every issue of TRBusiness and on TRBusiness.com, in the form of our regular TRSF content and the TR Plastic Pledge.

 

On the topic of single-use plastic waste TRBusiness has received an enormous amount of feedback from confectionery companies in the last few months, eager to share their stories about the actions they are currently taking, but also to share their concerns and talk about the challenges involved in recycling and reducing waste.

 

FOOD SAFETY: NOT ALWAYS EASY TO RECONCILE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS

Inside the TRBusiness Annual Confectionery Report (January issue), Guylian and Leonidas confirmed that they are actively incorporating sustainable principles into their business practices, including eradicating the use of non-recyclable plastic, laminates or foils.

In the case of the Leonidas, plastic elements used in its gift boxes are made from 100% recyclable polyethylene.

 

Al Nassma Director of Sales Patrick Dorais told TRBusiness that the brand is ‘constantly discussing with packaging suppliers’ to try and marry recyclability with food safety and ensuring product stability.

 

“Food has certain constraints that need to be followed to keep the product safe for consumption, so it is not always easy to reconcile with environmental questions,” he added.

 

USE OF GLASS AND PORCELAIN

While Simply Chocolate says all its paper packaging is sourced from reusable materials, with glass and porcelain used as alternatives to plastic for gifting options, it believes there is still more to do.

 

“We are continuously working on how to incorporate more and completely compostable packaging,” Niels Østenkær, CEO, Simply Chocolate, told TRBusiness.

 

Ritter Sport confirms it uses 100% recyclable foil for its primary product, with its R&D team also working hard on more environmentally friendly packaging solutions.

 

Mondelēz World Travel Retail was proud to tell TRBusiness that it is on target to reach its goal of eliminating 65,000 metric tonnes of packaging this year.

 

According to Jaya Singh, Managing Director, Mondelēz World Travel Retail, the company has also set an ambitious target to have all packaging recyclable by 2025.

 

‘UNACCEPTABLE’ AMOUNT OF WASTE

Speaking candidly with TRBusiness for this column, Mars Wrigley TR said ‘there is no such thing as a sustainable product in unsustainable packaging’. “We’re proud of our products, but deeply concerned about the impact of packaging waste on land and in the ocean.

 

“Too much of it ends up in the environment. This is unacceptable and we are committed to addressing this,” the company told TRBusiness.

 

Mars is a core partner of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation New Plastic Economy initiative and a signatory of their Global Commitment to eliminate plastic waste and pollution at its source.

 

“Our vision is aligned with theirs, to support a circular economy where packaging never becomes waste. To advance towards this vision, by 2025 we plan to reduce our virgin plastic use by 25% and for 100% of our plastic packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable.”

 

TRBusiness has partnered with Travel Retail Awards Platinum Sponsor Mars Wrigley ITR to raise awareness and funds for global environmental organisation the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).

 

More information can be found on here.