Terracycle collaborated with Mars Petcare’s United Kingdom division on a pet food packaging recycling program, reported Global Pets. Through Terracycle’s system, pet owners in the United Kingdom can recycle their animal's food packaging from any brand by dropping it off at certain locations around the country or by mailing it to Terracycle.
Currently, some pet food packaging can not be recycled via curbside pick-up. Mars partnership with Terracycle is meant to fill this gap in local recycling capabilities.
"Packaging waste is one of the most pressing issues we face today, and we know that pet owners are particularly engaged and passionate when it comes to issues that affect animals and our planet," said Deri Watkins, managing director Mars Petcare UK, in a press release. "That's why it's critical that businesses like ours pioneer new and innovative responses to the challenges around recycling and plastic waste. Our partnership with TerraCycle is an important part of this."
Mars pet food packaging recycling
Mars is working towards 100% recyclable packaging by 2025, according to the company’s website. Currently, approximately 90 percent of Mars’ packaging is recyclable.
“We are working to optimize the amount and type of packaging materials used to sell our products by moving to lighter or thinner materials which can yield benefits beyond weight reduction,” wrote company representatives on Mars’ website. “At Mars, we use a comprehensive design and analysis approach to ensure we achieve reductions in total packaging impact without compromising product safety or increasing food waste.
“Through our engagement with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy initiative, we’re collaborating on a blueprint for an “all” plastics sorting and recovery facility that will enable more than 90% recycling of after-use plastic.
“In Europe, Mars is actively advocating for more transparent and harmonized extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes to ensure that packaging is collected and recycled. We are working with Europen to achieve successful end-of-life management of packaging.
“We’re working with the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) as part of a committee advancing a landscape assessment of activities to collect multi-material films. Mars also co-chairs the Coalition’s Forest Product Working Group, developing tools to identify and address risks in forest product supply chains.”
