Nestlé has announced a “global first” for its iconic KitKat is being trialled in Australia.
The popular 45g four-finger bars will be wrapped in “innovative new paper packaging” sold exclusively at Coles supermarkets in Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Bars wrapped in the new paper packaging will be sold for a “limited time” from January as the brand explores different avenues to meet Nestlé’s goal of reducing its use of virgin plastics by a third by 2025.
The target includes using less plastic, recycled plastic and finding alternatives to plastic packaging.
“We’re proud to be the first country globally to trial KitKat in paper packaging, as an important step towards reducing our use of virgin plastic,” Nestlé Oceania general manager of confectionery and snack Chris O’Donnell said.
“With all packaging innovations, our priority is to ensure we deliver the same delicious KitKat with creamy chocolate and crisp wafer.”
Consumers are being urged to give feedback on the new wrapper via a QR code found on each block which Mr O’Donnell said would be used to “help shape the next step” in the company’s move to become more eco-friendly.
Coles general manager of grocery Leanne White said the supermarket was “thrilled” to partner with Nestlé on the trial, describing it as “leading the charge in innovative solutions”.
“As part of Coles’ Together to Zero waste ambition, we are committed to reducing plastic packaging wherever possible in Coles supermarkets,” Ms White said.
“We’re really proud to work with fantastic suppliers like Nestlé to trial a new packaging solution for one of Aussies’ favourite chocolate bar.”
The trial comes just seven months after Nestlé changed the packaging of its KitKat bars to a wrapper made using 30 per cent recycled plastic.
While the soft plastics wrapper is designed to be recycled, the scheme has been halted across the country following the collapse of REDcycle, the Melbourne company behind the national program.
Collection of soft plastics at over 2000 supermarkets was suspended in November after photos showing piles of rubbish building up in its warehouses were exposed by The Sydney Morning Herald.
Consumers have been told to dispose of their soft plastics in landfill until a solution has been found.
KitKat’s new paper wrappers however can be recycled in your home recycling bins, with the packaging containing clear instructions to encourage consumers.
