Pot Noodle, the leading brand of instant hot snacks in the UK, is conducting a trial for a new paper pot that is recyclable and made from FSC-certified paper. The new paper pot has been exclusively launched at Tesco, one of the major retailers, with an initial stock of 500,000 units featuring the brand’s popular Chicken & Mushroom flavor.
The purpose of the trial is to gather feedback from shoppers. If successful, the plan is to transition the entire range of Pot Noodle products to paper pots. This switch has the potential to eliminate 4,000 tonnes of virgin plastic waste annually. The insights obtained from the trial will aid in the implementation of this innovative solution at the Pot Noodle factory.
The company stated, “Exploring alternative materials such as paper is essential in fulfilling our commitment to reducing our reliance on virgin plastic. In addition to initiatives like refillable bottles, increased utilization of recycled plastic, and the adoption of highly concentrated formulas in smaller bottles, innovation with alternative materials like paper will play a crucial role.”
The development and refinement of the paper pot took place at Hive, Unilever’s Global Foods Innovation Centre in the Netherlands, spanning a period of more than three years. The primary objective was to find the optimal approach to minimize the amount of plastic utilized in each pot, while maintaining the distinctive shape of the packaging and ensuring that it delivers the same high-quality eating experience that loyal fans of the brand, affectionately called Noodlers, have grown to adore.
Andre Burger, general manager, Foods (Nutrition) at Unilever UK & Ireland, says, “Pot Noodle has been a much-loved British brand for over 40 years, and while our great taste will never change, we’re always challenging ways to make our products and packaging better.
“From material development and testing through to new manufacturing processes and capabilities, big packaging innovations require the investment of time and expertise across many teams and partners. There have been plenty of challenges along the way, but we are committed to reducing the plastic in our packaging and to a paper-based future for our pots, without compromising on the Pot Noodle experience our shoppers know and love. We are now excited to learn from this initial trial with the ambition of bringing our paper pots to more shoppers across the UK soon.”
The company claims that the newly introduced paper pots are designed to be easily recycled at home along with other cardboard and paper materials. They feature clear on-pack recycling labels that offer guidance to UK shoppers regarding the proper disposal of the packaging. To maintain freshness and safeguard the paper pot when water is added, a single layer of ultra-thin plastic film is incorporated to provide barrier protection. Importantly, this film does not impede the recyclability of the pot, ensuring it can still be recycled as intended.
Pot Noodle’s latest packaging is part of its ongoing strategy to foster innovation within the category, encompassing both flavors and formats. This strategic approach has proven to be successful, as evidenced by the brand’s consistent double-digit growth over the past three years.
Since its launch in 2018, the campaign has helped 450 people find internships, supported over 370 to come off benefits and secured permanent positions for more than 110 others. Already this year, it has received over 10,000 applications from people across the UK, attracting other big businesses – like Ubisoft, the Premier League, Channel 4 and Sony – to also place candidates.
