Pringles is testing out a new can made of recycled paper in the United Kingdom. On September 9th, Kellogg’s owned Pringles brand launched the new design at three Tesco grocery stores in England. The test will run for six weeks and offer two different versions of the can, one with a plastic lid and one with a paper lid. Both tops are recyclable.
When it comes to reusability, the iconic Pringles tube has been at the top of the list of worst offenders for years. In 2017, a UK recycling trade group called the can the “number one recycling villain.”
Miranda Prins, the Pringles vice-president, said:
We are eager to play our part and reduce our impact on the planet. And, Pringles fans expect that of us too. So, we’ve worked hard to come up with this new can, which is widely recyclable and keeps our chips fresh and tasty and protects them from breaking up — which helps to reduce food waste.
One of the main reason’s why Pringles cans are so difficult to recycle is because it’s made of several different materials, including paperboard, foil, plastic, and metal.
The UK-based Recycling Association, which has long criticized the Pringles can, said that even though the design was an encouraging sign, there was still room for improvement in the packaging.
Simon Ellin, the Recycling Association’s chief executive, commented:
This new version is an improvement, and we broadly welcome it. But, frankly, if they are going to stick to a plastic lid that’ll just add to problems with plastic pollution — people on picnics leave them behind, and they find their way into streams and the sea. That plastic lid has got to go.
According to Kellogg’s, the new pringles can design is part of the company’s larger goal to make all of its packaging 100% compostable, reusable, or recyclable by the end of 2025. Until then, the company will collect consumer data and feedback on the new packaging. If the can design is successful, it could be expanded across Europe.
