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MARS Wrigley has announced a two year partnership with biodegradable materials manufacturer, Danimer Scientific.
The collaboration will see the trial of Danimer Scientific’s signature packaging, Nodax polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), across various Mars products – beginning first with Skittles in America, before moving to other brands.
The packaging is produced through natural fermentation processes using plant oils such as soy and canola. The material biodegrades in both soil and marine environments. Mars said that utilising the packaging will enable consumers to compost at home.
The move comes as part of Mars ambition to transform its packaging portfolio to support a circular economy and to drive progress towards its goal of 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025.
Alastair Child, Mars Wrigley VP of global sustainability, commented, “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. 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.”
Stephen Croskrey, CEO of Danimer Scientific, added, “Expectations for sustainable packaging vary from market to market, making it essential for new materials to be adaptable in meeting different standards without sacrificing quality. PHA provides a versatile platform for manufacturing material that is renewably sourced and leaves a minimal impact on the environment upon disposal. We look forward to working with Mars Wrigley in fighting the global crisis of plastic waste.”
