Schwartz to move to fully recyclable herbs and spices sachets

Herbs and spices brand Schwartz is moving its entire range of recipe mixes to recyclable packaging in the UK, in a move that will reduce plastic usage by almost two-thirds while saving on carbon emissions.


Schwartz to move to fully recyclable herbs and spices sachets

The new packaging uses 61% less plastic than the previous sachets

Schwartz, which is owned by manufacturer McCormick, began rolling out recyclable sachets in July 2021. The company has now confirmed that a nationwide rollout will take place across the UK.

The new packaging is 100% recyclable and uses an On-Pack Recycling Label-approved substrate that can be recycled at home or in curbside paper bins.

According to McCormick, the new packaging uses 61% less plastic than the previous sachets, saving 29 tonnes of packaging weight annually. Additionally, 78 tonnes of plastic will be avoided from landfill as a result and there will be a 30% reduction in carbon emissions across the brand’s recipe mixes, equating to 273 tonnes of carbon.

McCormick’s UK marketing director Anca Secara commented:  “Today’s news is an important milestone in our ongoing sustainability transformation. As the UK branded leader in seasoning and recipe mix categories, Schwartz needs to lead from the front, and we are delighted to announce that the entire range of recipe mix sachets will move to recyclable packaging.

“Our consumers, customers and partners expect us to deliver sustainable solutions and we are determined to improve further. It also underscores McCormick’s continued commitment to Purpose-led Performance and to doing what’s right for people, the communities where we live, work and source and the planet we share.”

The new packaging builds towards McCormick’s aim to make 100% of its plastic packaging recyclable, reusable or repurposed by 2025.

Late last year, experts warned that the world is set to go through a trillion sachets by 2030 and that the personal care industry produces 122 billion plastic sachets annually.

However, the sachets are not covered by the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive, which will ban the production of a plethora of single-use items by 2021. Additionally, the UK’s approach to single-use does not cover the items.

Energy efficiency focus

Aside from packaging, McCormick has rolled out new initiatives in recent months aimed at reducing emissions.

Earlier this year, McCormick confirmed that a new facility in Peterborough looks set to become its first net-zero carbon building.

The new facility is being developed in adherence with the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework to help deliver net-zero carbon in both construction and operations.

A whole life carbon assessment has been carried out to uncover ways to reduce emissions. Onsite concrete mixing and the use of low-carbon concrete, as well as reusing all 12,400m³ of excavated soil at the site will help reduce emissions.

The company recently partnered with Mars and PepsiCo on a coalition aimed at encouraging suppliers to reduce carbon emissions in alignment with climate science.

The three firms are the first corporate members of the Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition (Supplier LoCT), a new collaborative effort to provide suppliers with resources, tools and the knowledge to develop ambitious carbon reduction strategies.

Through Supplier LoCT, which has been set up in partnership with consultancy Guidehouse, end-user corporates will help suppliers understand how greenhouse gas emissions can be measured and reduced in their own businesses by setting science-based targets and joining business commitments such as the RE100.

Matt Mace

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