Marks & Spencer has announced a trial of paper packaging for its own-brand chocolate bars as part of a push to improve the sustainability of its offering.
The new paper-based packaging for its Vanilla Fudge Bar can be more easily recycled, kerbside and on the go, with the change removing 1.4 million units of plastic from M&S’ Foodhalls over the next 12 months. If successful, the retailer plans to roll the packaging out more widely to additional bars in the range, removing a further 5 million units of plastic.
At the end of last year, M&S met its target to remove 75 million units of plastic in 2024/25 ahead of plan. The brand has committed to remove one billion units by the end of FY27/28, as part of its Plan A roadmap to net zero by 2040 and is halfway to this target with 500m units removed by the end of March 2025.
Earlier this month, M&S introduced new cardboard packaging for all its Perfectly Ripe Twin Avocado packs and Ripe Avocado lines, removing an estimated 7 million units of plastic.
Lucinda Langton, Head of Sustainability at M&S Food, said: “At M&S, we know our customers care deeply about reducing plastic packaging, and we’re committed to doing the right thing by finding packaging alternatives for our products.
“By making sure our products are in packaging which is as easy to recycle as possible, we are giving our customers the confidence that they can make more sustainable choices when shopping with us. This is also a key part of our Plan A roadmap to Net Zero, which will help us to meet our plastic reduction targets.”
