Reducing Our Plastic Packaging (2021-2024)

The packaging we use is critical for the freshness and safety of our products. We’ve decreased the amount of plastic in our packaging by adopting some innovative solutions to lightweighting the materials across our range, with specific reductions per pack (e.g., Tayto multipacks: -27% vs. 2021).

This has led to an estimated overall reduction of 170 tonnes of plastic placed on the market during this period compared to what would have been the case if we didn’t innovate and change. We are also actively pursuing fully recyclable flexible packaging solutions.

How have we done it?

We have achieved the packaging reduction by using two innovations:

• reducing the film thickness, called Micron reduction.
• cavitated film, which makes the plastic film less dense, using tiny air pockets.

This allows us to make more packs per kg of plastic film.

Our packaging commitments

• Reduction of Packaging Material: We are continuously implementing measures to decrease the amount of packaging used across our product range and recently introduced new slimline, ‘flow-wrap’ multipacks on some products.
• Developing Fully Recyclable Flexible Packaging: We are dedicated to finding a flexible packaging solution that ensures product quality and safety, while maintaining shelf life to prevent food waste.
• Setting targets: Our current target is that 100% of our plastic consumer packaging is recyclable by the end of 2025.

Our packaging progress

• The cardboard we use is made from recycled materials, while also being recyclable and we are optimising size and form to reduce waste.
• We have been on a flexible packaging reduction journey since 2014 and have reduced the packaging material we use by 19%.
• Currently, all Tayto Snacks plastic packaging can be disposed of in household recycling bins due to technological developments by waste management operators that enable flexible packaging to be separated from other waste.
• We engage locally with REPAK in the collection, sorting and recycling of waste materials.