Sweets and snacks manufacturer Mars Wrigley and Danimer Scientific, a biodegradable material manufacturer, are working together to create more earth-friendly packaging options for the former's candy packaging.
Mars Wrigley is kicking off the two-year partnership with a compostable packaging option for its Skittles brand using Danimer Scientific's Nodax polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) packaging. PHA is produced through natural fermentation processes using plant oils such as soy and canola and biodegrades in both soil and marine environments.
According to the company, Mars Wrigley will evaluate opportunities to scale the packaging technology across its portfolio of brands and categories.
"The impact of plastic on nature is one of the major sustainability challenges of our generation. There are no simple solutions and transformational innovation is necessary, we have to think and act differently," said Alastair Child, Mars Wrigley VP of Global Sustainability, in an announcement. "Collaborating with Danimer to advance this breakthrough technology represents a major step to creating positive societal impact and better environmental outcomes across the full lifecycle of small, flexible packaging."
