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PepsiCo-owned Walkers has announced a £14 million investment in sustainable food packaging innovations that will save 250 tonnes of virgin plastic annually. As part of the move, the outer plastic packaging on millions of the snack giant’s multipacks will be replaced with a new cardboard design. After a successful trial with Tesco, Walkers will transition to the new cardboard outer packaging in the coming weeks. Additionally, Walkers has invested in a new stretch film to wrap around pallets before distribution to retailers. Produced using nanotechnology, the film contains tiny air bubbles that reduce the amount of plastic used, while retaining the same stretch and strength needed to protect the product. This new technology is predicted to reduce Walkers’ annual virgin plastic use by 40% compared to the previous packaging. By decreasing its use of fossil-fuel-based virgin plastic, Walkers will reduce its annual carbon emissions by 465 tonnes. Sustainable packaging director at PepsiCo UK & Ireland, Simon Devaney, said: “This investment marks an important step forward, delivering a huge reduction in virgin plastic across some of our best-selling ranges, while also helping to tackle our carbon footprint. Reducing virgin plastic across our supply chain is a key part of our commitment to creating a world where packaging never becomes waste.” The investment comes as part of PepsiCo Positive, the company’s health and sustainability transformation plan, which includes the goal of eliminating virgin fossil-based plastic from its European crisp and snack bags by 2030 and the ambition of reaching net zero emissions by 2040.