Contact & Help

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.

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://zaf.mars.com/sustainability-plan 

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

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. 

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.

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

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. 

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. 

Yes, all of our paper-based packaging is sustainably sourced. Our Mars and Snickers packing has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). 

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. 

Great Question!  We have information about the correct disposal of the packaging on our packs.  This includes rubbish bin, recycling and special return to store programmes such as REDcycle.

You will be happy to know that in Australia our soft plastic packaging can be recycled via the REDcycle bin found at most Coles and Woolworths supermarkets. More information on this initiative can be found at www.redcycle.net.au or by contacting your local council. We would also love you to read more about our sustainability plan: https://aus.mars.com/sustainability-plan .(open in new tab)