Mars Wrigley invests $28.8 million in Ballarat factory

Snacks and treats manufacturer Mars Wrigley Australia will invest a further $28.8 million in its Ballarat factory, adding to more than $67 million invested since 2021.

The upgrading of manufacturing facilities comes as one of the factory’s biggest innovations – recyclable paper-based packaging (pictured) – begins to roll onto shelves across the country, replacing plastic wrapping.

In a world first for the company, Mars Wrigley’s popular MARS BAR, SNICKERS and MILKY WAY will switch to the new Australian-made paper-based packaging from 10 April, eliminating more than 360 tonnes of plastic from the company’s value chain.

Mars Wrigley worked closely with packaging giant Amcor over the past three years to find a suitable material that would maintain the freshness of the product, whilst being recyclable in Australia’s existing recycling infrastructure.

General Manager of Mars Wrigley Andrew Leakey said “We are the first Mars Wrigley market in the world to launch a recyclable paper-based packaging at this size and scale, and it speaks volumes to the commitment of our team locally who have been working on this project for almost three years.

“When we embarked on this journey, there wasn’t a playbook or roadmap for us to follow but we were committed to finding a solution and cementing our position as a leader in sustainability.

“We trialled many different materials and approaches before we landed on our paper-based solution, but one thing that was non-negotiable for us was to ensure that consumers could recycle our packaging within our current recycling infrastructure.”

Mars Wrigley said key equipment upgrades would pave the way for further development of sustainable packaging solutions and innovation across its filled bar and Bitesize portfolios.

Leakey said: “Seeing our bars on shelf now is an incredibly proud moment for me.

“Continued innovation and investment in sustainable solutions is critical to ensure that we can meet our 2025 packaging targets and commitments, as well as continuing to build Australia’s modern manufacturing capabilities and the future of Australian-made products.”

Amcor’s Director of Sustainability, Asia Pacific Richard Smith said said: “We want to be part of the solution, advancing the development of our packaging technology to create a local circular economy for flexible packaging. We are excited to continue innovating with Mars Wrigley to meet Australian consumers’ changing needs.”

Picture: Mars Wrigley