Mars produces more than 3 tons of recycled packaging foil in Europe in Q2

Mars has “successfully” produced 3.6 tons of Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) plastic resin foils to use in the packaging of cat food brand Sheeba in different European markets.

The foils have been produced in a company facility located in Gargždai (Lithuania) and have been distributed to Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, Italy, Poland, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania.

An additional 2.5 tons will be produced in the facilities in Verden (Germany) and Melton (UK) and will be distributed to Germany and the Netherlands for the Whiskas brand during the second half of 2022.

More production 

GlobalPETS learned that the multinational pet food company is planning to start “sequentially ramping up” the production of this foil across its European production site network as of mid-2023.

In 2020, the company delivered approximately 6,700 m2 of PCR foil to various markets. In 2021-2022 it has delivered 46,500 m2. Each food pouch requires around 0.029 m2 of foil.

PCR foils are made from wastes that consumers throw out when no longer usable for their intended purpose and are an increasingly viable option as single-use packaging for foods and beverages.

Mars stated that, in terms of consumer packages, there’s no visible differentiation between standard foil and PCR foil.