The impact of waste on the planet from single-use products has come to light over the last few years. It has been a long and hard fight for companies to do better, and it seems they are starting to act.
We have seen big shifts and commitments from many large companies globally, addressing some of the most pressing issues we face – one being their contribution to waste in the world. The pressure to do better in 2020 is greater than ever before.
One space that large companies are improving on is reducing their environmental impact through friendlier packaging.
Here are some of the brands who are changing their act:
Loop with Woolworths: We all know of those aesthetic bulk food stores where you take your jars to be filled up with all kinds of items and pay by weight – which can sometimes be a shock! Well, now Woolworths and Loop have partnered up so our most purchased products can be filled into reusable packaging.
Source: Woolworths
When shopping online or in-store, the choice will be to use Loop reusable packaging or original product package. Loop is not a subscription service. To purchase Loop products you pay a small refundable deposit for every package. Pricing is to be announced. Loop will launch in 2021 with Woolworths.
Johnnie Walker Earlier this year a report from the Guardian shamed some of the largest drinks makers including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé and Unilever products. Their daily plastic output could cover 83 football pitches every day. This shaming doesn’t include the other side of the drinks industry though– alcohol.
One of the most famous whisky brands Johnnie Walker will be introducing a new plastic-free bottle made from paper.
It’s the initiative of parent company Diageo, who looks after other brands including Smirnoff, Baileys and Guinness stout.
The bottle, which is fully recyclable, is made using sustainably sourced wood pulp and contains no plastic. If the new packaging is successful in maintaining the flavour and scent of the signature whiskey, it could path the way forward for not only Diageo brands, but the whole alcohol industry.
Source: Green Queen
Source: Nestle Japan
Another potential game-changer for the industry. Kit Kat announced that it has committed itself to 100% recyclable packing by 2025.
Kit Kat released new packaging for its miniature Kit Kat chocolate bars wrapped in paper instead of plastic. The switch in Japan alone (the largest market for the miniatures) where 4 million are sold every day, is expected to cut down on roughly 380 tonnes of plastic each year.
If the paper packaging of Kit Kat (owned by Nestle) is successful, it could path the way forward to reducing the plastic impact of Nestle’s whole confectionary range.
While having a 2025 target to meet their packaging commitment, Kit Kat and Nestle (like all global FMCG giants) need to show further hustle to adopt change sooner and reduce their environmental impact sooner. Zoe Jarousek
