Some Kellogg's Corn Flakes packets are going fully paper based to reduce plastic waste
Currently Kellogg's plastic liners are not widely accepted for recycling
Kellogg's Corn Flakes are going fully paper based with the trial of a paper liner in the UK that can be widely recycled.
It is part of a pilot with Tesco that aims to reduce the cereal giant's plastic waste as part of their commitment ensuring that all its packaging is 100% reusable by the end of 2025.
Manchester's Kellogg's factory will be producing the paper cereal liners for a January 2022 rollout across a small number of Tesco stores.
Kellogg’s have said that 'packaging technologists have worked to create paper-based inner packaging for its cereal that can survive the process of filling and sealing millions of bags in boxes of cereal produced in its factory and transporting them to retailers'.
Why use paper linings?
Although the outer card of the cereal boxes are fully recyclable, the plastic lining in their cereal boxes are not widely accepted at kerbside recycling, so the results of the pilot are vital for the company's future cereal packaging plans.
Kellogg's have said that packaging technologists have worked to create paper-based inner packaging for its cereal that can survive the process of filling and sealing millions of bags in boxes of cereal produced in its factory and transporting them to retailers.
The trial is part of Kellogg’s Wellbeing Manifesto launched in May this year.
The new action plan is a decade-long commitment from the company to improve its food and packaging so that it’s better for people, the planet and the community.
The company says the results of this trial are crucial as it plans for fully recyclable cereal packaging whether that’s plastic liners being recyclable at kerbside similar to countries like Ireland and Belgium, or the roll out of cereal packaging that is fully paper based.
It’s also important the cereal is kept fresh inside a paper liner as cereal has a 12-month shelf life.
A 'crucial' trial
Chris Silcock, Kellogg UK and Ireland managing director said: “We know people want to do more to help the planet and that’s why we are working hard towards meeting our commitment of all Kellogg’s packaging being reusable, recyclable or compostable by the end of 2025. This important trial of fully paper cereal packaging ensures we have explored all our options.
“Ultimately, we would prefer plastic liners to be accepted in home recycling as our data tells us that they are better for the planet over the full life cycle of the packaging, but this trial ensures we have an alternative.”
Tesco grocery director, David Beardmore said, “We are committed to working with our suppliers to remove, reduce, reuse and recycle packaging, particularly plastic.
"It’s great to see that Kellogg is trialling a paper cereal bag in our stores - our customers will be pleased that they can easily recycle the bag at home.
"We call on suppliers to test and roll out actions like this; using as little material as possible and making sure that necessary packaging is easy to recycle."
Kellogg and Tesco have been working closely on several initiatives to improve the recyclability of their packaging and previously trialled a fully recyclable Pringle’s paper can in 2020.
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