The retailer has announced the trial on its Vanilla Fudge Bar, a top seller for the group.

The trial will remove 1.4m units of plastic from M&S Foodhalls over 12 months.

The paper wrapper can be easily recycled through normal channels and M&S said it would “maintain the unbeatable quality of the product”.

Lucinda Langton, head of sustainability at M&S Food, commented: “At M&S, we know our customers care deeply about reducing plastic packaging, and we’re committed to doing the right thing by finding packaging alternatives for our products.

“By making sure our products are in packaging which is as easy to recycle as possible, we are giving our customers the confidence that they can make more sustainable choices when shopping with us.”

The move is part of the M&S Plan A roadmap to Net Zero by 2040.

The brand has committed to remove 1bn units of plastic by the end of FY27/28, and said it was halfway to this target with 500m units removed by the end of March 2025. 

At the end of last year, M&S met its target to remove 75m units of plastic in 2024/25, ahead of plan.

If the trial proves successful M&S will embark upon a wider roll-out, which would remove a further 5m units of plastic.

In a busy period it has also introduced cardboard packaging for its Perfectly Ripe avocado twin packs, and Ripe Avocado range. This has removed an estimated 7m units of plastic.

M&S has more than 40 Foodhalls and 316 Simply Food stores. It also has a joint venture partnership with Ocado Retail for online grocery deliveries. The group said it sells around 52 avocados every second.

Other initiatives include new porridge pots for its Food on the Move range whereby the cardboard wrap will separate from the plastic pot during recycling, without consumers needing to remove it.