Mars Wrigley and biodegradable materials manufacturer Danimer Scientific entered a two-year partnership March 16 to develop home compostable packaging for some of Mars’ treats.
The first brand up for compostable repackaging will be Skittles, with tentative on-the-shelf dates targeted for late 2021 or early 2022.
Danimer Scientific‘s packaging is made of Nodax polyhydroxyalkanoate, or PHA, which is produced through natural fermentation processes using plant oils such as soy and canola and biodegrades in both soil and marine environments.
The companies plan to introduce NodaxPHA into flexible and rigid packaging that breaks down in both industrial composting facilities and backyard compost units. The confectionery and snack company will evaluate opportunities to scale the packaging across its portfolio, according to an announcement.
The partnership is a key component of Mars Wrigley’s comprehensive strategy to use 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025.
“The impact of plastic on nature is one of the major sustainability challenges of our generation. There are no simple solutions and transformational innovation is necessary, we have to think and act differently,” said Alastair Child, Mars Wrigley VP of Global Sustainability in a prepared statement. “Collaborating with Danimer to advance this breakthrough technology represents a major step to creating positive societal impact and better environmental outcomes across the full lifecycle of small, flexible packaging.”
Initial packaging development with kick off in North America, but the goal is to expand to markets with underdeveloped recycling infrastructures where littering is especially problematic to nature, the company announced.
