Paper packaging being trialled for noodle cups

Pot Noodle, a UK instant hot snack brand, is trialling a recyclable paper pot made with FSC-certified paper. The trial will be used to gain user feedback and, if successful, will see the full Pot Noodle range being switched to paper pots, a move which could remove 4000 tonnes of virgin plastic each year.

The process to develop and refine the paper pot took over three years and was led by R&D teams at Hive, Unilever’s Global Foods Innovation Centre in the Netherlands, working closely with packaging experts in the UK. The challenge was identifying the most effective way to reduce the plastic used in each pot while ensuring packaging still holds its shape.

Andre Burger, General Manager Foods (Nutrition), Unilever UK & Ireland, said big packaging innovations require the investment of time and expertise across many teams and partners.

The pots can be recycled at home with other cardboard and paper and include on-pack recycling labels to provide clear guidance to shoppers on how to dispose of the packaging. A single layer of thin plastic film is used to provide barrier protection, ensure ingredients remain fresh and protect the paper when water is added.

Image credit: Unilever