Schmackos dog treats now packaged with 60% recycled content

Mars Petcare’s dog food treat brand in Australia and NZ is now packaged using 60% recycled food-grade plastic, which has been certified through a mass balance approach. The new packaging will be used for the 200 and 500 g single variety packs of SCHMACKOS STRAPZ and STIX.

As a result of this initiative, the Schmackos brand will reduce its annual use of virgin plastics by 40 tonnes, equivalent to the amount of plastic needed to stretch from Melbourne to Sydney.

Mars Petcare Australia’s Research and Development Director Mark Harry said, “Mars Petcare is invested in creating a circular economy for soft plastics in Australia and globally, and we’re proud to be one of the first in our industry to make such a large, quantifiable change in our packaging. It is a great step towards our targets in Mars’ $1 billion Sustainable in a Generation plan, which aims to reduce virgin plastic use and incorporate 30% recycled plastic into our packaging.

“Creating packaging that is both safe for food and sustainable is an ongoing challenge for our industry and as a result there is a limited supply of food-grade recycled plastics available. We understand that as leaders in the industry, it is our responsibility to find and develop solutions to this challenge.”

The new packaging is certified by the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC +) system, which supports new technologies that convert hard-to-recycle materials into new plastic.

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has congratulated Mars Petcare on its efforts, which will contribute to the 2025 sustainability targets.

APCO CEO Chris Foley said, “No material is truly recycled until it has been used again, so in order to achieve a circular economy it is vital that we work to increase the use of recycled content in packaging. Mars Petcare’s significant reduction in virgin plastic usage underscores their strong commitment to circularity.”

Amcor is the key supplier of Schmackos content packaging and was pleased to work with Mars to bring this to fruition.

Richard Smith, Director of Sustainability at Amcor Flexibles Asia Pacific, said, “At Amcor, we are committed to driving the adoption of circular packaging solutions that support our customers’ sustainability goals. The introduction of certified circular plastics in Schmackos packaging is a significant step forward, showcasing how innovative materials can reduce reliance on virgin plastics while maintaining the highest standards of food safety. This collaboration with Mars Petcare highlights the growing momentum for advanced recycling technologies in Australia and New Zealand, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of this transformation.”

The new packaging is now on the shelf in Coles in Australia and will be rolled out in New Zealand later this year.