A collaboration between brand owner Mars and Berry Global Group led to the relaunch of the candy brand’s popular pantry-sized treats in light-weighted PET jars now molded with 15% post-consumer resin (PCR).

The new, easy-grip square jars for jars M&M’s, Skittles, and Starburst are produced by Berry using a single-pellet, food-grade resin to assure a clean, consistent substrate sourced from mechanical recycling.

The jars, which come in three sizes, 60-, 81-, 87-ounces, offer the same look and feel and will eliminate approximately 300 tons of virgin plastic yearly.

With a history of results in light-weighting, Berry approached Mars with the new concept including PCR. Berry’s technical expertise helped Mars make progress toward their sustainability goals. In addition to the inclusion of PCR, the jar is also widely recyclable.

“By leveraging our material science expertise and technical resources, we proactively created a solution for Mars without disruption to product performance,” says Brian Hunt, an EVP and general manager for Berry Global’s Consumer Packaging North America Division. “Through partnerships and creative thinking such as this, customers look to Berry for unique solutions to their sustainability challenges.”

As part of Mars’ ongoing commitment to sustainability, the company is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to reimagine and redesign its packaging.

“At Mars, we want to contribute to a circular economy where packaging material never becomes waste, but is recycled, reused or composted,” says Justin Comes, VP of R&D, Mars Wrigley North America. “We have set an aggressive, science-based strategy to innovate our packaging and this change to 15% PCR for these large-format jars is a significant step towards a more sustainable future.”

For the 81- and 87-ounce jars, Berry reduced weight by 10 grams per jar, saving 374 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) according to the Association of Plastic Recyclers guidance.

Based on EPA data, those savings are equivalent to…