The Australia and New Zealand’s dog treat brand Schmackos has announced its 200g and 500g single variety packs of Schmackos Strapz and Stix now feature packaging made from 60% recycled plastic through a mass balance approach.
This significant reduction in the use of virgin plastic underscores Mars Petcare’s commitment to sustainability and establishes the Schmackos brand as the region’s leader in recycled food grade content in the Dog Care and Treats category, Mars Petcare says in a release.
As a result of this initiative, the company says Schmackos will reduce its annual use of virgin plastics by 40 tonnes, equivalent to the amount of plastic needed to stretch from Melbourne to Sydney.
Mars Petcare Australia and New Zealand’s research and development director, Mark Harry, says, “Mars Petcare is invested in creating a circular economy for soft plastics in Australia and globally and we’re proud to be one of the first in our industry to make such a large, quantifiable change in our packaging. It is a great step towards our targets in Mars’ $1B Sustainable in a Generation plan, which aims to reduce virgin plastic use and incorporate 30% recycled plastic into our packaging.
“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. We understand that as leaders in the industry, it is our responsibility to find and develop solutions to this challenge.
“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.
“We hope that other pet brands will be able to benefit from an increased supply and join us in sourcing more recycled content for their packaging. We know this is not only great for the environment but for pet parents who are interested in making informed decisions based on how sustainable a product or brand is.”
The new Schmackos packaging is certified by the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC +) system in Australia, guaranteeing that the material reliably includes through a certified mass balance approach. The ISCC Plus certification scheme supports new technologies that convert hard-to-recycle materials into new plastic, contributing to a more sustainable world.
The new packaging will be visible on shelf in Coles in Australia from the end of August ahead of a market wide roll out, which will include New Zealand, later this year.
The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has congratulated Mars Petcare on its efforts, which will contribute to the bold 2025 sustainability targets, setting a new standard in the pet food category for circular packaging innovation.
APCO CEO, Chris Foley says, “No material is truly recycled until it has been used again, so in order to achieve a circular economy it is vital that we work to increase the use of recycled content in packaging. Mars Petcare’s significant reduction in virgin plastic usage underscores their strong commitment to circularity.”
