Your bar may
look a little
different now

As we continue to support a SUSTAINABLE future, we’ve swapped PLASTIC FOR PAPER-BASED PACKAGING. IT’S YOUR TURN NOW. After you’ve enjoyed your bar, please place the empty wrapper in the RECYCLING BIN.

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What do I do with my new wrapper?

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Recyclable: The coloured/opaque recycling symbol, means that this piece of packaging can be placed in the recycling bin as it is. Each piece of packaging with this label has to be placed separately in the recycling bin.

New Zealand: Our paper-based wrappers must be placed in the rubbish bin in New Zealand. Unfortunately, due to infrastructure differences and recently revised technical guidelines, they cannot be recycled in New Zealand.

Our Commitments

Cocoa
For Generations

At Mars, we’ve been making chocolate and buying cocoa for more than 100 years, putting cocoa at the heart of our company’s long heritage. Backed by a $1 billion investment over 10 years, Cocoa For Generations aims to protect children and families in Cocoa farming communities, preserve our forests by aiming to achieve a deforestation free supply chain for cocoa by 2025, and improve cocoa farmer income to ensure the cocoa community can thrive.

Rainforest
Alliance

All of our cocoa volume for MARS ® Bars comes from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms and is traceable to our factory, helping protect the environment and support farmers.

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FAQs

Q: Which Mars Wrigley Australia products will be switching to paper-based packaging?


A: The transition to paper-based packaging will begin with our core range of MARS®, MILKYWAY® and SNICKERS®. This transition to paper-based packaging is part of our broader sustainable packaging plan we are implementing as part of our Sustainable In A Generation Plan. Our aim is to redesign our packaging for circularity; working towards all of our packaging being recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025, in line with the national packaging targets.

Q: Can I recycle the paper-based wrappers in New Zealand?


A: We’re excited to launch our paper-based packaging in New Zealand. Due to infrastructure differences in Australia & New Zealand, and recently revised technical guidelines, the MARS and SNICKERS paper-based bars must be placed in the waste bin in New Zealand, not in kerbside recycling. It’s disappointing that we can’t recycle them, but we’re proud to launch new packaging innovations that uses less virgin plastic, and continues our journey towards sustainable packaging.

For the next few months, you’ll see a sticker on the front on pack asking you to put the paper-based wrappers in landfill once you’re done. We hope to have updated packaging in stores by the end of September.

Q: Is this paper-based packaging the same as what other Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) brands use?


A: The recyclable paper-based packaging we use on our Australian-made chocolate bars is of the highest industry standard and is similar to the paper-based packaging used by other food and consumer product brands.

Q: If MARS®, MILKYWAY® and SNICKERS® bars have transitioned to paper-based packaging, why can I still find plastic-wrapped bars in stores?


A: Depending on the individual store and how quickly our products sell through, there may be some plastic-wrapped bars still available for sale. However, once this stock is sold through, our paper-based packaging will be available on our core range of MARS®, MILKYWAY® and SNICKERS®.

As our paper-based packaging has been designed and implemented in Australia, there may be some variants of our bars range that are produced overseas and therefore will be in plastic wrapping. As a company, where we can, we will always manufacture our products locally in Australia, however where we do not have the technology to, we import products from within our global network of Mars Wrigley factories to allow Aussies to enjoy new variants of our products they know and love.

Q: How much plastic wastage will be eliminated from the shift to paper-based packaging?


A: Once the transition is complete across our entire Australian-made bars portfolio, we will eliminate 360 tonnes of plastic from our value chain.

Q: How do I recycle the new paper-based wrappers?


A: The great thing about our new paper-based packaging is that it can be recycled via kerbside recycling. Whether this is your at-home recycling bin or a council-owned recycling bin on the street. As per the Australasian Packaging Covernet Organisation (APCO) guidelines, our paper-based packaging is widely recyclable across Australia.

Q: Will the shift to paper-based packaging impact the quality of Mars Wrigley Australia’s products?


A: We will never sacrifice on the quality and safety of our products. As such, we have ensured that the shift to paper-based packaging will not impact the quality of our Australian-made chocolate bars.

Q: Where can I buy MARS®, MILKYWAY® and SNICKERS® bars with the new paper-based packaging?


A: From April 2023, our new paper-based bars can be purchased from all major supermarkets, convenience stores and retailers.

Q: What is the Mars Sustainable in a Generation Plan?


A: Our Sustainable in a Generation Plan aims to curb our environmental impact, meaningfully improve lives in the workplace, supply chains and communities where we work, and help people and their pet lead healthier, happier lives today and into the future.

For more information on our Sustainable In A Generation plan, please visit: https://www.mars.com/sustainability-plan