Credit: Walkers Chocolate

Walkers Chocolates switches to innovative new kerbside recyclable paper wrapper

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Walkers Chocolates is introducing a fully recyclable paper wrapper for its Turkish Delight and Mint Cream bars.

The new packaging, made from EvoPak RCM, will be available in select Asda and Premier shops this month.

Unlike traditional wrappers, these can be recycled in kerbside collections alongside other paper items. The innovative packaging uses Hydropol™, a polymer that provides necessary protection while remaining environmentally friendly.

If littered, it doesn’t produce harmful microplastics. This change addresses the issue of complex, multi-layer packaging that has dominated the confectionery industry for decades.

The new wrapper, certified as recyclable by OPRL, offers a practical solution to the problem of small, mixed-material packaging that often ends up in landfills.Hydropol™, developed by Aquapak, allows paper to remain fully recyclable and compostable.

It’s non-toxic, marine safe, and biodegradable, providing a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic packaging.

Credit: Walkers Chocolate

Tom Murtagh, Commercial Director, Walkers Chocolates, said: “At Walkers Chocolates, we have a strong focus on sustainability and are committed to reducing our impact on the environment. 

“As part this, we will move away from plastic to paper-based materials completely over the next three to five years where possible. 

“Today’s announcement is an exciting step for the Walkers team with two our key customers and I hope is the start of a much bigger revolution in the chocolate category, and one which will be welcomed by consumers who can recycle the wrappers and know that no harmful microplastics are being produced at end of life.”

Mark Lapping, Chief Executive Officer, Aquapak, said: “Today’s announcement marks a significant step by major retailers to move to fully recyclable paper packaging. 

“With Brits consuming an average of three chocolate bars a week, the opportunity to reduce the impact on the environment by removing conventional plastics from this type of packaging, improving paper recycling and making life easier for consumers, retailers and brands is enormous. 

“Aquapak’s Hydropol™ technology has made this possible and opens the door for many other categories to do the same.”

Daniel McAlister, Director of Business Operations at Evopak, commented: “We have developed a special paper which we call RCM that has the potential to revolutionise packaging as we know it, thanks to the unique properties of Hydropol™. 

“The paper can be used in a range of applications from snacks and confectionary, to petcare and dry foods and cereals, and costs the same as existing materials.”

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