Pringles can set for eco makeover

The Pringles can is set for an eco makeover as the company announces the trial of a new tube made of recycled paper, which is widely recyclable.

Launched in partnership with Tesco in September, the trial will take place in a small number of the grocer’s stores across East Anglia, Germany.

Invented by organic chemist and food storage technician Fredric John Baur, the Pringles can has been a defining feature of the product since its 1967 launch in the USA.

The current tube is made up of a combination of foil, paper board, metal and plastic, making it difficult to be recycled through the existing household recycling system set-up.

But the make-up of the new-look can means people will be able to pop it in their home recycling bins.

The paper cans will be trialled with two different lids — a paper lid and a plastic lid. Both can also be recycled.

Pringles Vice President Miranda Prins said the company is eager to play its part and reduce the environmental impact on the planet.

“We’ve worked hard to come up with this new can which is widely recyclable and keeps our chips fresh and tasty and protects them from breaking up — which helps to reduce food waste,” Prins said.

“The important thing for us now is getting the trial up and running with Tesco and collecting all the data and consumer feedback.

“At this stage, it is too early to say whether we’ll roll out this new paper tube. However, the information we collect will help us understand if people like it and if it works on the supermarket shelf and at home. This trial will help us create the Pringles can of the future.”

It had taken a team at Kellogg, the company that owns Pringles, almost 12 months to create the new tube.

If successful, the company could roll out the new-look packaging across Europe.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Steve Cukrov