The pilot will take part in partnership with Tesco in a small number of stores from January 2022, with the results set to help shape Kellogg’s future packaging plans.
Although the outer recycled card packaging of the company’s cereal boxes is recyclable, the plastic inner liner in cereal boxes is not currently widely accepted in kerbside recycling.
Kellogg said its packaging technologists have worked to create paper-based inner packaging for its cereal that can survive the process of filling and sealing millions of bags in boxes of cereal produced in its factory and transporting them to retailers.
This move is part of Kellogg’s Wellbeing Manifesto, which was launched in May this year. The new action plan is a decade-long commitment from the company to improve its food and packaging so that it is better for people, the planet and the community.
The company said the results of this trial will be crucial as it plans for fully recyclable cereal packaging, whether that is plastic liners being recyclable at kerbside, similar to countries like Ireland or Belgium, or the rollout of cereal packaging that is fully paper-based. The company said it is also important that the cereal is kept fresh inside a paper liner as cereal has a 12-month shelf life.
Kellogg UK and Ireland managing director Chris Silcock said: “We know people want to do more to help the planet and that’s why we are working hard towards meeting our commitment of all Kellogg’s packaging being reusable, recyclable or compostable by the end of 2025. This important trial of fully paper cereal packaging ensures we have explored all our options.
“Ultimately, we would prefer plastic liners to be accepted in home recycling as our data tells us that they are better for the planet over the full life cycle of the packaging, but this trial ensures we have an alternative.”
Tesco grocery director David Beardmore added: “We are committed to working with our suppliers to remove, reduce, reuse and recycle packaging, particularly plastic. It’s great to see that Kellogg is trialling a paper cereal bag in our stores – our customers will be pleased that they can easily recycle the bag at home.
“We call on suppliers to test and roll out actions like this; using as little material as possible and making sure that necessary packaging is easy to recycle.”
Kellogg and Tesco have been working closely on several initiatives to improve the recyclability of their packaging and previously trialled a fully recyclable Pringles paper can in 2020.
