CHOCAHOLICS are left divided after a popular M&S chocolate bar gets a paper packaging revamp.
The posh shop is trialling a new method of reducing plastic, but not all shoppers are on board.
M&S’ hugely popular Vanilla Fudge Bar is undergoing a make-over, moving over from plastic to paper packaging.
This move will reduce the plastic in their famous foodhalls by 1.4m units in a year.
The new and improved paper wrapper can be popped into your regular recycling bin and would in no way impact the “unbeatable quality of the product.”
This means your chocolate will taste just as nice and you can feel good as well when you recycle your wrapper.
The head of sustainability at M&S Food, Lucinda Langton, said: “At M&S, we know our customers care deeply about reducing plastic packaging, and we’re committed to doing the right thing by finding packaging alternatives for our products.
“By making sure our products are in packaging which is as easy to recycle as possible, we are giving our customers the confidence that they can make more sustainable choices when shopping with us.”
Last year M&S vowed to try and remove 75m units of plastic in 2024/25.
The supermarket called this the M&S Plan A roadmap to Net Zero by 2040 and it involves removing 1billion units of plastic.
M&S is hoping to achieve this by the financial year of 2027/28 and claimed it was already half-way to this impressive target.
By March this year, the brand will have 500m units removed from its foodhalls.
While the new Vanilla Fudge Bar are only temporary, if the trial works out then they will scrap the plastic wrapping for good.
This will further eliminate 5m units of plastic and depends on, edging M&S towards its Net Zero goal.
Some customers are thrilled to see that a big brand is making steps to become more sustainable.
One happy shopper commented: “Top work guys!”
However, others thought M&S could do with focussing its attention on releasing new products or reintroducing the shops old loyalty scheme the Sparks Bar.
One wrote: “How about bringing something new in that’s actually healthy.”
Another responded: “Bring back the Sparks Bar.”
The Vanilla Fudge Bar isn’t the only product to get a upgrade with the Perfectly Ripe avocado twin pack being issued with a cardboard cover – cutting 7m units of plastic.
With more than 40 Foodhalls and 316 Simply Food stores, any reduction of plastic on one item will reduce plastic all across the UK.
The food delivery service Ocado is partnered with M&S and claims to sell an avocado every 52 seconds.
Additional efforts encompass the launch of redesigned porridge containers within its Food on the Move collection.
It features a cardboard sleeve that detaches from the plastic tub during the recycling process, sparing consumers the task of separating the materials themselves.
This comes after a study that revealed nearly half of Brits have no idea how to recycle.
A poll of 2,000 adults found four in 10 are still baffled when it comes to recycling – with 47 per cent struggling to tell what is recyclable and what isn’t.
With some of the recyclable items Brits still think they have to put in the general waste bin including glass jars, tin cans and plastic takeaway containers.
ITEMS WHICH CAN AND CAN’T BE RECYCLED:
1. Polystyrene/Styrofoam – General waste.
2. Dirty pizza boxes– A bit of both. Any parts of the box covered in cheese or other food should be thrown in general waste, but clean cardboard should always be recycled.
3. Plastic bottle lids – Recyclable, only when put back onto the bottle.
4. Plastic takeaway containers – Recyclable. Please ensure you rinse and empty these before putting them into the recycling.
5. Aerosol cans – Recyclable. Only once completely empty.
6. Batteries – Recyclable at specific disposal points. Check your local council or many supermarkets offer recycling points for smaller batteries.
7. Glass jars – Recyclable. Please ensure you rinse and empty these before putting them into the recycling.
