KP Snacks announces packaging reductions – ongoing drive to minimise environmental impact

KP Snacks announces packaging reductions – ongoing drive to minimise environmental impact

More than 85 tonnes of plastic have been removed from KP Snacks’ footprint already

KP Snacks has announced large-scale packaging reductions as it strives to meet its sustainability goals via the company’s Taste for Good responsible business programme. As one of the UK’s leading snacks manufacturers, KP Snacks is constantly looking for ways to innovate the packaging of its products to reduce its environmental impact.

Hula Hoops

Packaging for Hula Hoops has been cut by 23% – equal to 11 tonnes of plastic – whilst popchips and Tyrrells packaging are both down by 14%, or the equivalent of 23 and 43 tonnes respectively.

KP’s move to cut plastic usage includes further plans for packaging reductions across a number of the brands in the KP Snacks stable this year. Investment in new equipment that packs the products in a more efficient way has resulted in the ability to cut around 142 tonnes of packaging across Nik Naks, Space Raiders and Skips. Meanwhile, a further 144 tonnes will be saved thanks to packaging reductions in popchips sharing bags, Hula Hoops six-packs, Butterkist, and Hula Hoops Puft.

Fewer pallets

The reduction in packaging also has a knock-on effect for KP Snacks’ wider environmental impact; it allows the business to handle 33,000 fewer pallets per year and significantly reduce the number of journeys made by its lorries.

Mark Duffy, manufacturing director at KP Snacks, commented: “We’re always looking for new ways to reduce our impact on the environment, and sustainability is one of the four key pillars of our Taste for Good programme. Our pacKPromise is our three-stage plan to reduce our packaging impact on the environment. In addition to reducing the amount of packaging we use, we’ve also introduced a partnership with TerraCycle, so that all of our snacks packs can be recycled at any of 500 drop off locations across the UK. Our ultimate aim is to make all of our plastic film packaging 100% recyclable by 2025 and we’re well on our way to achieving this. While our packaging has reduced, people can rest assured that the same great tasting snacks are inside.”

Head of Sustainability appointed

Nicola Robinson appointed Head of Sustainability for KP Snacks

As part of KP Snacks’ increased focus on doing business responsibly, the company has recently appointed Nicola Robinson to the newly created role of Head of Sustainability, reporting to CEO Mark Thorpe. Nicola will lead KP Snacks’ sustainability agenda, ensuring that it has the right strategy and initiatives to succeed in this critical area.

Nicola says: “My new role is a strong signal of the importance KP Snacks will be placing on their sustainability performance going forwards. There is already a significant amount of impactful sustainability work embedded throughout the business, and I’m looking forward to building on this so that people can continue to enjoy snacks that not only taste great, but also do good long into the future.”

Zero waste

All KP factories have been zero waste to landfill since 2012 and KP Snacks is committed to reducing its total waste by at least 5% each year. To find out more please visit https://www.kpsnacks.com/ourtasteforgood/.