Both companies are adopting a similar approach. They are replacing their current packaging materials with cartonboard. This brings with it distinct advantages. The packaging can now be recycled simply and easily which will be well received by consumers. The raw materials used in cartonboard are infinitely renewable and at the same time the new cartonboard packaging is lighter which will reduce shipping costs.

Selection boxes
Nestlé UK recently announced the removal of the plastic inserts from this winter's Christmas selection boxes 2009. The plastic inserts had held the chocolate bars in place and have now been replaced by a card presentation tray, making the packaging easily recyclable without having to separate different materials.

Nestlé said that the change would save it 200 tonnes of packaging compared to 2007. An additional 17 % and 20 % will be removed from the weight of the medium and large selection boxes, respectively. Already last year, Nestlé reduced the size of Christmas selection boxes by 40 per cent and now the company has shaved off a further 17 and 20 per cent respectively off the weight of medium and large selection boxes.

Nestlé Confectionery seasonal marketing manager Andy McQuade said that the challenge was to reduce the packaging "while ensuring the product arrives at the retailer in perfect condition. We are really pleased that we've been able to find innovative solutions that have met these objectives and have proved immensely popular with our customers and consumers alike," he added.

Metal tins
Cadbury is giving its Roses and Heroes chocolates a trial green makeover for the Christmas season, swapping their traditional round metal tins for square, recyclable cardboard boxes. The environmentally friendly packaging will be trialled in Tesco stores this Christmas and, depending on consumer feedbacks, will be rolled out more widely in the future.

The move is part of Cadbury's Purple Goes Green environmental strategy, which includes a pledge to reduce packaging of seasonal and gifting products by 25 % by 2010. Cadbury claims that replacing tins with 100 % sustainably sourced cartonboard achieves a 45 % weight reduction and saves 201 tonnes of steel as a result.

The confectionery giant is hoping to tap into consumer demand for sustainable packaging. Jo Grice, head of marketing giving and seasonal for Cadbury said: "We know from our research that many of our consumers are dreaming of a green, not white, Christmas this year.“

The confectioner said it is aiming to have all paperboard packaging to be sourced from certificated sustainable forest sources by 2010, and is also implementing an average 32 % packaging reduction across its selection box range.

Source Nestlé: Jill Park, packagingnews.co.uk, 07 August 2009
Sources Cadbury: Jacquie Bowser, Brand Republic 04 November 2009; Jane Byrne, Food & Drink, 05 November 2009