Upfield creates paper tub for its plant butters and spreads

Upfield has launched a plastic-free, recyclable tub for its plant butters and spreads.

Following four years of development, in collaboration with Footprint, MCC and Pagès Group, the new packaging marks the beginning of Upfield’s transition to a paper solution across its portfolio, delivering on the company’s ambition to reduce plastic content by 80% by 2030.

Initially launched in Austria with Flora Plant towards the end of 2023, Upfield expects further scaling of its paper solution, aiming to replace up to two billion plastic tubs by 2030, avoiding more than 25,000 tons of plastic waste per year.

The paper tubs are made from compressed wet paper fibres and are waterproof, oil-proof and recyclable in local paper waste streams. The tub has received Conventional Plastic Free Certification and uses paper from a PEFC-certified supplier. Upfield expects the packaging to achieve home compostability certification by 2025.

David Haines, Group CEO for Upfield, said, “Globally, 40% of all plastic produced is for packaging that is used once and then discarded. It is clear that the issue of plastic waste is one of the most critical facing our environment. When we established Upfield, innovating our way out of plastic tubs was our moonshot and I am very proud of all Upfielders that continue to work towards this goal.”

Unlike many paper packaging solutions, Upfield’s paper tubs do not have a plastic liner so it is possible for them to be recycled along with other paper and cardboard household waste.

Karina Cerdeira, Head of Packaging for Upfield, said, “We are proud to have created, with Footprint, an innovative paper-based tub that is durable, oil-resistant and appealing, and which many thought would be impossible with paper. But after years of dedicated focus from joint Upfield and Footprint R&D teams and dozens of prototypes, we made the impossible possible. This new paper tub marks a true milestone for sustainable packaging that significantly minimises reliance on plastic.”