Mars Wrigley UK reduces plastic in Easter eggs by 86 tonnes

Mars Wrigley UK has removed plastic trays from its Extra Large and Giant Easter egg range in 2021, saving 86 tonnes of plastic this Easter.

By redesigning the packaging that it uses to protect delicate Easter eggs as they are transported to shops across the nation, the company has been able to take another step forward in its journey to become ‘Sustainable in a Generation’, working towards Mars, Incorporated’s global goal to develop packaging that is 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable while decreasing virgin plastic use by 25% by 2025. 

Adam Grant, general manager, Mars Wrigley UK, said: “We’ve made Easter a little sweeter this year by removing 86 tonnes of plastic trays from our UK Easter egg range. With less plastic packaging in the larger eggs of some of the nation’s favourite brands like Malteser Bunny and Galaxy Enchanted Eggs, you can have a little more spring in your step as you share a treat this Easter weekend”.

This change removes the plastic tray from the following larger Easter eggs made for sharing and celebrating the season together, completing the work to remove plastic trays from the range: Galaxy Enchanted Eggs, Maltesers Bunny, Maltesers Buttons, Galaxy and Galaxy Ripple, M&M’s Speckled Eggs and Twix.  Mars Wrigley UK will continue its work to further reduce Easter egg packaging in 2022.

This latest move from Mars Wrigley UK follows news last year that it was accelerating its sustainable packaging programme and from April 2021, selected ‘Standard’ and ‘More to Share’ sharing pouches of some of Mars Wrigley UK’s favourites, including M&M’s, Galaxy Counters, Galaxy Minstrels, Revels, Maltesers Buttons, Skittles and Starburst will be narrower, reducing the plastic used by 51 tonnes or around 647,000 square metres a year – the equivalent area of over 90 football pitches.