Kellogg unveils fresh packaging commitments for 2025

Food manufacturing firm Kellogg has unveiled a raft of new sustainable packaging commitments, including the introduction of easily recyclable cereal pouches and a recycling solution for Pringles cans.


Building on the packaging commitments laid out in the firm’s Sustainability 2020 strategy, which includes a pledge for 100% of paper-based packaging to be either recycled or certified as sustainably sourced, Kellogg’s new aims were unveiled on Thursday (25 October). 

They notably include a headline pledge to ensure that all packaging is either fully recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025. 

In the first step towards meeting its 2025 ambition, Kellogg said that its European packaging teams will collaboratively work to develop a recyclable material for its cereal pouches before the end of 2019. The company claims that this move will eliminate around 480 tonnes of non-recyclable material from its European supply chain each year.

“Nurturing our planet is a foundational value of Kellogg,” Kellogg’s chairman and chief executive Steve Cahillane said. “It’s imperative we are part of a solution that ensures a healthy and sustainable planet for all people around the world.”

The move from Kellogg comes after the company began its journey to align its sustainability strategy with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) last year.

The firm has specifically committed to targeting the Global Goals where it believes it can have the greatest impact – namely SDG 12, responsible production and consumption, and SDG 2, zero hunger – and claims the new packaging strategy will bolster this alignment.

“We cannot accomplish this ambitious goal alone, and we will collaborate with new and existing external partners, our customers and other innovators to identify packaging solutions that protect and enhance our foods while delivering on the quality and great taste that consumers expect from us,” Kellogg’s senior director of global packaging Lou Massari added.

Closed-loop crisp packaging

The announcement from Kellogg’s global head office came on the same day that the company launched a new partnership with recycling firm TerraCycle for its UK operations.

Under the partnership, consumers will be encouraged to send used Pringles tubes to Terracycle for recycling via Freepost from December 2018. It follows recent campaigner criticism that Pringles tubes and crisp packets were too difficult to recycle.

With Pringles tubes not currently accepted by most local authorities for kerbside recycling, Kellogg said in a statement that the partnership would “provide a consistent solution for the public”.

Once the used tubes are collected, they will be turned into plastic and metal pellets that will be used to make closed-loop fence posts.

In order to incentivise consumers to post their used packaging, Kellogg will send those who use the new recycling scheme a charitable donation voucher which they can give to a school, charity or non-profit of their choosing.

TerraCycle recently made headlines when it partnered with PepsiCo subsidiary Walkers to launch the UK’s first crisp packet recycling scheme.  

Under the scheme, consumers will be encouraged to deposit used crisp packets at one of the hundreds of public collection points that will be developed by December 2018, or to post them to TerraCycle free of charge. Packaging from any crisp brand will be accepted.


Kellogg at edie’s Sustainability Leaders Forum

Kellogg Europe’s senior director for corporate affairs Rupert Maitland-Titterton will appear at edie’s Sustainability Leaders Forum to discuss the ways in which businesses can align sustainability with profitability and embed CSR into their day-to-day operations. 

The two-day event, taking place 5 & 6 February 2019 at the Building Design Centre, London, will also include debates on how to solve the plastics crisis and the state of corporate action on sustainable packaging. 

For more information and to register for the Forum, click here.


Sarah George

Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie

Subscribe