More than 200,000 paper tubs will begin rolling out to selected Tesco stores next week, carrying around 150 tonnes of Quality Street.
The tub, which is suitable for home recycling, has a “luxurious design”, embellished with gold foil.
It features an integrated reclose feature, so it can be shut securely after opening.
The packaging innovation was subjected to “significant testing” to ensure food quality and freshness was maintained during transportation and storage.
Nestlé said it would assess its popularity with shoppers, along with feedback from Tesco’s supply chain and in-store teams, to inform its future packaging solutions.
“We’re looking forward to seeing what Quality Street fans make of the paper tub,” said Quality Street brand manager Jemma Handley.
“A lot of care and hard work has gone into the trial and we’re proud to be the first major manufacturer to trial a paper tub at Christmas.”
Nestlé Europe head of sustainability for confectionery Cheryl Allen said: “We’re committed to making our packaging more sustainable, keeping in mind the changing needs of shoppers and advancements in technology.
“Of course, with all potential packaging changes, we want to get it right, so this trial will bring us valuable information to inform our next steps as we keep pushing to reduce our use of virgin plastic.”
Quality Street switched most of its sweets from foil and cellulose to paper in 2022. It then transitioned its Orange Crunch sweet from a foil wrapper to paper earlier this year.
All Quality Street sweets – apart from Green Triangle – are now wrapped in paper.
