Quaker Oats will rollout a set of new paper packaging across its entire range of porridge pots, in a move that will reduce the brands virgin plastic by up to 200 tonnes each year.
While the porridge brand’s pots were previously recyclable, the plastic inner packaging needed to be separated from the card sheath in order to be recycled.
The switch for paper in the new pots, which will be available on shelves in all major retailers from next month, means that consumers now only need to rinse one piece of packaging in order to recycle.
With Quaker Oats representing almost half (47%) of the UK porridge market, the new packaging will help deliver a significant reduction in the amount of virgin plastic used in porridge pots across the country.
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It comes after Quaker parent company PepsiCo was last year named one of the world’s biggest plastic polluters in a list by Break Free From Plastic, also topped by its competitor Coca-Cola.
The move follows other similar initiatives from PepsiCo, including introducing outer packaging across a Walkers Baked multipack, trialling bagless multipacks for Snack A Jacks; it forms part of the company’s PepsiCo Positive plan to reach net zero by 2040.
“Quaker Oats was one of the first branded porridge oats on the market, so we’re proud to also be leading in packaging innovation and plastic reduction,” said PepsiCo UK sustainable packaging lead Gareth Callan.
“We know convenience is a key factor in driving recycling rates, which is another important reason for launching this new packaging, and we’re pleased to be making it as easy as possible for Quaker fans to recycle their pots, wherever they are”.
