USA – The Kellogg Company has released a recent update on its global packaging ambitions as the company works towards ensuring its packaging are 100 percent reusable, recyclable or compostable by the end of 2025.
Led by Nigel Hughes, Senior Vice President of Global Research & Development at Kellogg, the company notes that it has developed cutting edge innovation around its sustainable packaging ambitions.
As part of this quest, the company claims that already more than 97 percent of its timber-based packaging that goes into cereal and other boxes comes from either recycled or certified-sustainable content.
In addition, Kellogg says that it is speeding its efforts, highlighting that although plastic packaging is just one part of our overall packaging mix, the company has already ensured that 32 percent of what it uses globally is recyclable.
The company has also implemented many projects across the world to reducing waste with more sustainable packaging. Kellogg is using three sustainable packaging approaches across its portfolio; exclude, reduce and redesign.
Exclude
In 2018, Kellogg transitioned to compostable paper foodservice products in all its plants and offices. In the US, its operations in Illinois and Michigan alone have diverted 2 million pieces of silverware, 105,000 straws and 110,000 bottles from landfill every year.
Kellogg is also removing the plastic spoons from our joyböl granola smoothies. Once this is complete, no Kellogg food packaging will use plastic forks, knives, straws, stirrers, polystyrene or oxo-degradable plastic.
Reducing and redesigning
Over the years, Kellogg said that it has significantly reduced the amount of material in cereal boxes and other packages including flap sizes, eliminating excess air and introducing other innovations to make its packaging better for the environment.
In Europe, the company has redesigned cereal pouches to use recycle-ready material, eliminating approximately 480 tonnes of non-recyclable packaging each year.
In the United States, Bear Naked recently launched new, store drop-off, recycle-ready packaging for their granolas and granola bites.
The new packaging includes a “Store Drop-Off” logo and website link to help people find a nearby recycle drop-off location. All Bear Naked granolas and Bites varieties will adopt this packaging going forward.
Most importantly, Kellogg said that it is looking at breakthrough packaging innovation by considering sustainability right from the start.
Kellogg is also encouraging more recycling through partnerships and new technologies across various markets such as Australia, UK, Mexico and India.
“At Kellogg, we’re wasting no time in working toward our goal of using 100 percent reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging by the end of 2025,” Hughes said.
“Our goal aligns to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s (EMF) New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, which we were among just a handful of food companies to sign on to in 2018.
“Doing so is part of our global Kellogg’s Better Days commitment to create better days for 3 billion people around the world by addressing the interrelated issues of food security, climate resiliency and well-being.”
