Popular butter brands go fully recyclable with packaging change

Saputo Dairy UK is eliminating non-recyclable cover papers from its Clover, Utterly Butterly, and Country Life Spreadable products. This move aligns with the company's goal to make all packaging reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025.

The tubs and lids of these brands are already recyclable, and with the removal of cover papers, all packaging for the spreads will now be fully recyclable.

The company estimates that eliminating cover papers will save approximately 44 tonnes of unnecessary packaging from ending up in landfills each year.

Traditionally, cover papers in spreads packaging flatten the product for even filling and provide a surface for promotional messages. However, these greaseproof papers are not recyclable due to their tightly bound fibres, making separation during waste management difficult. Despite this, cover papers are not essential for preserving product quality or freshness and do not serve as tamper-evident features. Therefore, their removal is not expected to impact the products or the consumer experience negatively.

Saputo says: Cover papers are the last piece of our spreads packaging which are not recyclable and contribute to 70 Tonnes of unnecessary landfill every year. So, for the good of the planet, we are taking them off.

Saputo claims it is the first branded manufacturer to make this change in spreads packaging.