Mars Petcare’s dog treat brand Schmackos has introduced Strapz and Stix products with packaging made from 60 per cent recycled plastic.
The new packaging is now available in Coles in Australia and will be expanded to New Zealand later this year.
According to the company, the new Schmackos packaging reflects Mars Petcare’s dedication to sustainability. As a result of this innovation, Schmackos will minimise its annual consumption of virgin plastics by 40 tonnes, which is equal to the amount of plastic required to extend from Melbourne to Sydney.
“Creating packaging that is both safe for food and sustainable is an ongoing challenge for our industry, and as a result, there is a limited supply of food-grade recycled plastics available,” said Mars Petcare Australia’s research and development director, Mark Harry.
“The new Schmackos packaging is not only reducing our use of virgin plastics, but it’s also signalling to the rest of the industry that there is a growing demand for recycled content and advanced recycling technologies in Australia and New Zealand.”
The new Schmackos packaging has been certified by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC +) standard.
Mars Petcare, the pet food manufacturer, invested $112.6 million last year to increase its manufacturing capacity at its Wodonga factory.
