Hellmann's Canada shifts to 100% recycled plastic packaging

Hellmann’s Canada hopes to make a dent in the plastics pollution war with the introduction of new packaging.

Unilever's mayonnaise brand says its jars and bottles will be made with 100% post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR) by March 2020. The initiative, it says, is projected to save one million kilograms of virgin plastic this year. (Post-consumer recycled plastic is recovered plastic that is cleaned, reprocessed and reused rather than disposed of.)

"Canadians want to do what's right, seeking out products and brands that prioritize the planet," said Gary Wade, president, Unilever Canada, in a press release. "By transitioning our bottles and jars to ones made with 100% recycled plastic, Hellmann's is helping make sustainable choices more accessible, while continuing to deliver the great taste Canadians know and love."

Read: Big brand names try reusable containers

The company says converting to PCR plastic jars and bottles gives the packaging a slightly darker tint than its previous packaging, and is 100% food safe. The new Hellmann's packaging features the How2Recycle label that provides instructions on how to recycle correctly.

This new packaging builds on Unilever's commitment to reducing its use of virgin plastic in its packaging by more than 100,000 tonnes and accelerating its use of recycled plastic by 2025.