Nestlé to trial paper tub for Quality Street chocolate brand
UK – Nestlé is set to introduce a ‘first-of-its-kind’ paper tub for its popular Quality Street chocolate brand as part of its efforts to reduce plastic use.
The trial will begin on October 14, 2024, with over 200,000 paper tubs rolling out to selected Tesco supermarkets in the UK for the festive season. These tubs will carry a total of approximately 150 tonnes of Quality Street chocolates.
The new packaging, designed in the signature purple with gold foil embellishments, represents a major step in Nestlé’s sustainability journey.
The paper tub features an integrated re-close mechanism to ensure freshness once opened and is fully recyclable in household recycling systems. The switch to this eco-friendly alternative aims to further reduce the use of virgin plastic in Quality Street’s packaging.
Jemma Handley, senior brand manager for Quality Street, expressed pride in the trial, saying, “A lot of care and hard work has gone into the trial, and we’re proud to be the first major manufacturer to trial a paper tub at Christmas. The beautiful design has been devised specifically for a paper product, and we love how it looks. Shoppers can expect the same great-tasting Quality Street sweets that they know and love inside.”
The trial will not only evaluate customer feedback but also gather insights from Tesco’s supply chain and in-store teams to assess the practicality and effectiveness of the new paper tub in real-world conditions. Nestlé has conducted extensive testing to ensure that the packaging maintains the high standards of food quality and freshness throughout the distribution process.
This initiative follows previous efforts by Quality Street to improve sustainability, such as the 2022 transition to recyclable paper packaging for its twist-wrapped sweets.
By replacing the traditional double layer of foil and cellulose with a single paper wrap, the brand removed nearly 2 billion pieces of packaging from its supply chain.
Beyond packaging, Nestlé is also taking steps to improve the sourcing of ingredients. Earlier in 2024, the company announced that all UK-made chocolate would use traceable cocoa ingredients sourced from families participating in the Nestlé ‘Income Accelerator’ program, aimed at supporting cocoa farmers.
This move aligns with the company’s broader commitment to sustainability, following the introduction of other environmentally friendly packaging innovations, such as Sonoco’s 95% paper-based cans for coffee products and a trial of returnable stainless steel containers for bite-sized KitKat and Lion chocolates in France.
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