Mars Wrigley and Danimer Scientific partner on home compostable confectionery packaging

18 Mar 2021 --- Mars Wrigley (Mars) and Danimer Scientific are announcing a two-year partnership to develop flexible and rigid home compostable packaging for confectionery products, starting with the Skittles brand in the US. 

Danimer Scientific’s signature biopolymer – Nodax polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) – is renewably sourced and can serve as an alternative to traditional petrochemical plastic.

Nodax PHA is produced through natural fermentation processes using plant oils such as soy and canola and biodegrades in both soil and marine environments.

Mars and Danimer Scientific plan to introduce the biopolymer into flexible and rigid packaging for solutions that reliably breakdown in both industrial composting facilities and backyard compost units, offering an enhanced value proposition for eco-conscious consumers and retailers.

“Our joint challenge is to now apply Nodax PHA successfully to Mars Wrigley packaging formats, taking into consideration the specific barrier properties and quality and food safety needs of our products and the way our products are packed on our lines,” Alastair Child, VP global sustainability at Mars, tells PackagingInsights.

“Through our partnership with Danimer, we will work across our supply chain to implement best practices and accelerate proven solutions that will allow us to drive efficiency and scale.”

One solution to a complex problem
For Child, there is no single solution to plastic pollution. A wide range of new material technologies are required to enable Mars to achieve its target of 100 percent reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025.

Mars’ first packaging using Nodax PHA is tentatively scheduled to hit shelves in late 2021 with Skittles.“We see a future where both paper and compostable films are part of a portfolio of solutions. We have already launched, and continue to plan for, a wide range of material and design ‘test and learns,’ including mono-material plastic, paper, and recycled plastic for select brands and markets,” he explains.

“Partnering with Danimer Scientific offers unique and far-reaching opportunities for positive societal impact across a broad range of pack types, produced and sold in an even broader range of operating environments and associated infrastructure capabilities.”

“In some instances, PHAs provide a better barrier from things like humidity and moisture than some other materials. They can also be designed and certified for soil and marine biodegradation. The starting material – PHA resin – is produced via biofermentation, creating an ideal scenario for environmental outcomes – from nature, back to nature.”

A different path to paper
The confectionery sector is experiencing a growing trend toward paper-based solutions. Innova Market Insights revealed “Fiber-based Frenzy” as its third top packaging trend for 2021, documenting the rising sophistication of fiber-based solutions as alternatives to single-use plastics.

Mars Wrigley Germany is piloting a paper-based Balisto chocolate cookie bar wrapper for the first time with retail partner EDEKA Minden-Hannover.

“A key benefit of Nodax PHA is it provides the quality and feel of traditional plastic while reducing its environmental impact,” Stephen Croskrey, CEO at Danimer Scientific, tells PackagingInsights.

“Paper-based packaging has been a staple of confectionery for years, but many examples of this packaging have a thin layer of film plastic built into it to keep food fresh. Our material can help ensure this film seal on paper-based packaging will degrade alongside the paper itself.”

Targeting the highest polluters
Mars and Danimer Scientific will initially target smaller and single packs, more likely to be littered and typically less likely to be recycled. Initial development will begin in North America with the goal of reaching additional markets with underdeveloped recycling infrastructures where plastic pollution is especially problematic.

The first on-the-shelf offerings are tentatively targeted for late 2021 or early 2022, featuring the Skittles brand in the US.Danimer Scientific’s bioplastic resin plant in Winchester, Kentucky, US.

“Our next steps are already underway as we begin work in North America to develop applications of PHA with select brands such as Skittles and then work toward deploying in high-priority markets where there is minimal or no recycling infrastructure such as China and developing markets like India,” reiterates Child.

“The Mars Advanced Research Institute will also collaborate with Danimer to push boundaries, explore and create long-term innovative packaging solutions.”

As part of Mars, Incorporated’s $1B Sustainable in a Generation Plan, Mars is testing a range of material solutions in markets worldwide. 

“Expectations for sustainable packaging vary from market to market, making it essential for new materials to be adaptable in meeting different standards without sacrificing quality,” adds Croskrey.

“PHA provides a versatile platform for manufacturing material that is renewably sourced and leaves a minimal impact on the environment upon disposal. We look forward to working with Mars Wrigley in fighting the global crisis of plastic waste.”

Update on Danimer’s NYSE listing
PackagingInsights sat down with Croskrey after the PHA bioplastic leader listed on the New York Stock Exchange at the start of the year.

“Public investment is giving us the financial means to further expand our commercial production of Nodax PHA. As we begin to work with more industry leaders like Mars Wrigley, we’ll be able to continue scaling production to meet our customers’ needs,” explains Croskrey.

Danimer Scientific is currently producing Nodax at commercial scale from its facility in Winchester, Kentucky, US, and partnering with key manufacturers such as PepsiCo, Nestlé, Bacardi and Columbia Packaging as they introduce biodegradable alternatives to straws, food and beverage containers and flexible packaging.

By Joshua Poole

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