Ferrero Rocher has embarked on a journey of eco-conscious packaging since 2019, expanding to the rollout with the 24-piece gift box in 2023.
This heralds a momentous breakthrough, as the celebrated chocolatier undertakes a steadfast commitment to render all its packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable. Crafted from polypropylene (PP), the eco-designed boxes are a meticulous effort to curtail plastic usage and ecological impact while upholding the iconic transparency of Ferrero Rocher boxes and ensuring the unwavering quality cherished by consumers.
A pivotal aspect of this endeavor is the substantial reduction in plastic consumption, with the 16-piece, 30-piece, and 24-piece boxes witnessing reductions of 40%, 38%, and 40%, respectively. This translates to a reduction equivalent to over 360 million 0.5 PET plastic bottles from September 2021 to August 2023. The estimated reduction is poised to exceed 600 million bottles as the initiative permeates Ferrero Rocher’s entire box repertoire.
Adding to its eco-credentials, the new packaging facilitates a diminished carbon footprint, boasting a minimum 30% reduction, as per a comprehensive life cycle assessment conducted by a third party in 2020/Q1 2021. This evaluation contemplates various scenarios, including a worst-case non-recycled end-of-life situation and a best-case full recycling scenario, with the potential for up to a 70% reduction in carbon footprint if the box is recycled.
In an additional eco-win, the plastic box utilized in the eco-designed packaging is more easily recyclable. Recycling programs for rigid PP packaging are more widespread globally compared to the materials used in prior containers. Ferrero Rocher, however, advises consumers to ascertain local recycling capabilities and guidelines through their municipalities.
While the eco-designed boxes gradually permeate different markets, starting with the 16-piece, 30-piece, and 24-piece formats, consumers may still encounter previous packaging on store shelves. Ferrero Rocher aims to systematically introduce the new eco-designed boxes throughout its entire product spectrum.