In store now, the new chocolate box contains an assortment of fine luxury milk, dark and white Swiss chocolates. The Plantic® tray within the box was chosen by Marks & Spencer for its unique properties of being: biodegradable after use; home compostable and compostable toEuropean standards (EN13432); and made from renewable and sustainable resources (non-GM corn starch) that are non-toxic to the environment. The Plantic® tray was recently accredited with the AIB-VINCOTTE ‘OK Biodegradable Soil’ conformity mark; it is certified safe for disposal in soil giving Plantic® a much coveted standing amongst all available biodegradable packaging products in the market.

Marks & Spencer’s adoption of the Plantic® tray for the Swiss Chocolate Assortment chocolate box evolved from the company’s aim to reduce waste being sent to landfill. In January 2007, Marks & Spencer launched “Plan A”, a £200m “eco plan” which impacts every part of Marks & Spencer’s operations over the next five years. The plan maintains that by 2012, Marks & Spencer aims to become carbon neutral; send no waste to landfill from its own operations; extend sustainable sourcing; set new standards in ethical trading; and help customers and employees live a healthier lifestyle. It has been dubbed Plan A because there is no Plan B.

In commenting, Helene Roberts, Head of Packaging, Foods, Marks & Spencer, said, “Our decision to incorporate Plantic® packaging has grown primarily from our aim to reduce the amount of packaging that we use by 25 per cent over the next five years and use sustainably sourced packaging materials and materials that are easily composted or recycled.”

The Plantic® tray was chosen by Marks & Spencer because, in addition to being made from renewable resources, consumers can also take advantage of the excellent end-of-life properties such as biodegradability, home compostability and eco-sensitivity.

Plantic® is produced as extruded sheet or as resin granules and sold to a wide range of materials and packaging companies throughout the world. Using industry standard equipment, Plantic® materials can be thermoformed, injection molded and used for film extrusion and blow molding. They can also be formulated to work in conjunction with conventional plastics which is indicative that the potential for the technology is limitless.

Grant Dow, Chief Executive Officer of Plantic Technologies, commented, “Marks & Spencer’s adoption of the Plantic® tray is indicative of their commitment to the environment and their  sustainable-driven innovation.

“Plantic® products offer a high performing, cost-effective alternative to petrochemically derived plastics without compromising the environment. Marks & Spencer are actively leading the way in implementing Plantic’s biodegradable material in their product packaging.”