Müller cuts 500 tonnes of plastic annually with new cream pot

Müller Milk & Ingredients has announced plans to remove 500 tonnes of virgin plastic from its annual production of cream pots by switching to packaging made from recycled materials.

Müller has converted 75% of its cream volume to rPET pots, which are made from 82% recycled plastics and are 100% recyclable.

The pots have been supplied by packaging business Faerch, while Müller is also developing packaging solutions for the remaining 25% volume for 2023.

The new pots have been rolled out across Müller’s 150ml and 300ml cream range and join its fresh milk bottles, which have been 100% recyclable for years and contain 30% recycled material.

Liam McNamara, joint chief executive officer at Müller Milk & Ingredients, said: “It’s clear that shoppers want great dairy products in packaging which preserves their quality, safety and shelf life whilst reducing environmental impact. We are continually searching for innovative solutions to use significantly less virgin plastic.”

Mark Tollman, group strategic sales director at Faerch added: “We have worked closely with the Müller team to ensure the product had the highest level of recycled content possible, whilst maintaining the overall performance of the packaging through the supply chain”. 

The company has also scrapped coloured milk caps in partnership with Waitrose and Aldi to enable retention for reuse within the food sector.