How Müller® is reducing the weight and increasing the recyclability of its Vitality® yogurt drinks packaging

Background

Müller has been working with WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) and has signed up to the Courtauld Commitment to reduce the amount of packaging that they use, and use more recyclable and recycled materials. They have already reduced the thickness of some of their pots and reduced the amount of cardboard they use, helping them achieve a packaging weight reduction of 1,800 tonnes vs. 2006.
 

	Vitality® yogurt drinks
	Müller Vitality Drinks now have 15% less packaging and are 100% recyclable

How the issue was tackled

Since its launch in 2003, the packaging for Müller Vitality Drink has been continually analysed, revised and amended with an aim to reduce its weight and to increase its recyclability.

The changes that have been implemented mean that each year Müller now supply 396 tonnes less packaging to the market and that all of the component parts are 100% recyclable.
 

Benefits and impacts

Bottle
Müller has removed 1g (12.5%) of plastic from the bottle leading to a weight reduction of 167 tonnes per annum.

Shrinksleeve
The shrinksleeve has now been completely removed from the bottle which has provided two major benefits:

1. Each sleeve weighed 0.76g - removing it leads to a weight reduction of over 126 tonnes per annum
2. The shrink sleeve was non recyclable and would certainly go to landfill

Outer Sleeve
Müller has reduced the weight of each carton sleeve by 2.5g leading to an annual saving of 68 tonnes.

Tray
The tray has been reduced in weight by over 5g meaning a weight reduction of just under 35 tonnes per annum
 

Next steps

Müller has signed up to the 'Federation House Five Fold Environmental Ambition' to help the food and drink industry make significant reductions, and improvements regarding its environmental impact.

One of the key targets is 'Zero to landfill by 2015'. Müller has set itself the following target:

• Reduce waste to landfill by 66% (2,000 tonnes) between 2007-2011
• Zero waste to landfill by 2015

To date, they have cut waste to landfill by 1,400 tonnes per annum vs. 2007. While they are working hard to reduce as much waste as possible from their processes, there are times when, for a variety of reasons, products that are still within their 'best before' dates do not make it to retailers in time. That’s why they are working with the charity FareShare, to give these dairy products, which would otherwise be considered waste, to disadvantaged people in the community. The food redistributed by FareShare feeds 29,000 people a day. Tony Lowe, FareShare CEO, said: "We are proud to be partnering with Müller Dairy. Their products help us to contribute towards a healthier diet for vulnerable people."
 

Advice to others

We [Müller] now approach our supply chain differently, considering its impact all the way through to post-consumer waste rather than stopping at consumer purchase, and therefore focusing on the recyclability of the materials we use. We are investing time and effort looking into alternative ways to use more recyclable and recycled materials.

As one of the first brands to sign up to the Courtauld Commitment, Müller Dairy has undoubtedly been at the forefront of driving changes and the sustainable environment agenda within the FMCG industry. Their commitment is unquestionable. As well as achieving significant reductions in packaging and waste within their own business through initiatives such as dispensing with the plastic film on bottles of their Vitality yogurt drink range, they have also made an invaluable contribution to the debate on improving the recyclability of packaging materials. Andy Dawe, Head of Retail, WRAP

Related links

• Müller Dairy
• Mission Goodness: Müller Dairy CSR highlights 2009/2010 (PDF)

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