Mars has published its „Sustainable in a Generation Report 2025“. In it, the food and pet food manufacturer reports on progress in its packaging strategy. According to the company, 67.6 percent of consumer-facing packaging is now designed for reuse, recycling, or composting. At the same time, Mars has further improved the use of virgin plastic and the proportion of recycled content.
Mars is continuing its investments in redesigning its packaging portfolio, according to the company. The aim is to adapt packaging more closely to existing or anticipated recycling structures and to increase the use of recycled materials. The company points out that a functioning circular economy cannot be achieved through new packaging designs alone. Efficient collection, sorting, and recycling systems, as well as political frameworks such as effective extended producer responsibility (EPR), are also required.
Less new plastic and more recycled material
In the reporting year, Mars reduced its use of new plastic by 5.9 percent compared to the 2019 baseline year, according to company figures. At the same time, the use of recycled materials increased to 18,721 tonnes. This corresponds to 9.2 percent of the global plastic portfolio. The company cites packaging changes in several markets as examples. In India, the packaging for Mixed Minis was switched from a multi-layer plastic bag to a metal tin. In addition, polystyrene inserts in Snickers gift packaging were replaced with recyclable cardboard solutions. In the USA, pilot tests were also carried out with paper-based flow packs for Kids products.
Recycling-friendly packaging in focus
According to Mars, 67.6 percent of consumer-facing packaging by weight is now designed to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable. As an example, the company cites the recyclable wet food pouches for the Whiskas brand, which were developed together with suppliers and recycling partners for existing collection and recycling infrastructure in Great Britain and Germany. In addition, Mars is using 100 percent rPET for various packaging types. These include, among others, containers for M&M's, Skittles, and Starburst in the USA, as well as other product lines in China and Australia.
Research into compostable materials
In addition to optimising existing packaging, Mars is also working on new material solutions, according to the company. Together with the Georgia Tech Research Corporation, the company investigated compostable films with chitin coatings. The aim was to improve their barrier properties against oxygen and moisture. The results were published in a scientific journal. In parallel, Mars expanded a recycling programme for plastic waste from veterinary clinics. According to the company, nearly 173 sites worldwide participated in this by the end of 2025. As a result, 4.3 tonnes of plastic were diverted from landfill.
Source: Mars
