Collab for Amcor and Alter Eco delivers paper packaging upgrade
Alter Eco has worked with Amcor for more environmentally sustainable packaging. Pic: Amcor
A decisive industry collaboration has been formed between sustainable packaging business, Amcor, and French organic snack producer, Alter Eco, in a bid to product paper-based and reduced weight packaging for its chocolate confectionery range, reports Neill Barston.
With recycling and sustainability remaining core issues as waste and packaging legislation is introduced in the EU, the snacking and confectionery sector is moving to respond to ensure ranges comply with new regulations – which will also impact UK businesses in meeting those standards for exports.
For its part, Alter Eco produces chocolate using carefully selected organic cacao, sourced through fair and transparent supply chains, and works closely with farming cooperatives.
Linked to its sustainability strategy, the company identified packaging as an area for improvement, seeking to improve its 200-gram chocolate bar variants, available on the French market.
As the company relayed, one of the brand’s main objectives was to reduce packaging weight by replacing the existing cardboard sleeve and inner aluminium foil wrap, while preserving the premium look and feel consumers associate with Alter Eco products.
Working closely with Alter Eco and Halba, a Swiss chocolate specialist and experienced co-packer, Amcor supported the transition to AmFiber Performance Paper, a paper-based and recyclable packaging solution.
The Alter Eco design combines a natural kraft look with a matte finish, reinforcing the product’s authentic shelf presence. One SKU containing almonds added complexity, as the new packaging needed to maintain a smooth, high-quality appearance despite the product’s textured surface, which was successfully achieved with AmFiber Performance Paper. At the same time, the new packaging delivers high-barrier performance, providing effective protection against water vapour and grease.
Notably, according to the company, the redesigned packaging using AmFiber Performance Paper achieves up to 61% weight reduction compared with the previous pack and can be recycled in the paper stream in France. The fibre used in the solution is FSC®-certified, ensuring it is sourced from responsibly managed forests, and the packaging aligns with CEPI and 4evergreen guidelines.
Anne Descarsin, R&D pack manager for Alter Eco, believed the venture would have a notable positive impact.
She said: “This project illustrates our commitment to innovation, combining reduced environmental impact with uncompromising quality. Designing a thinner packaging that still protects the chocolate and preserves its organoleptic qualities is a true technical challenge and a major step forward for Alter Eco.”
Janice Narainsamy, senior product development engineer at Amcor, said, “Paper-based packaging combines strong shelf appeal with a well-established perception of sustainability. With the right barrier performance, it can also deliver the protection needed for demanding applications like chocolate. Alter Eco’s transition to AmFiber™ Performance Paper demonstrates this in a real market context, delivering a significant reduction in packaging weight.”
