In 2018 Walkers partnered with TerraCycle to set up collection points to support the recycling of its crisps plastic packaging. As flexible packaging is becoming easier to recycle, the company has closed its take back programme in 2022 and it is instead focusing on making its packaging easier to recycle.

Plastic is ubiquitous in today's society. A great amount of plastic is specifically flowing into the packaging industry. However, economic and technical limitations cause most plastic packaging to have a linear and unsustainable life, often characterized by a very short use phase. In particular, flexible packaging is not commonly recycled in municipal facilities, and even different types of flexible packaging can hardly be recycled together.

In 2018 Walkers launched the crisp packet recycle scheme with terracycle. They set up 1600 drop-off locations in the UK. With this scheme consumers can recycle crisp packaging from any brand.

Fortunately the recycling landscape has evolved and now over 3000 supermarkets offer collection of flexible packaging at their stores. This is revolutionary as when the project was launched, flexible packaging could not be mixed. As a result of this innovation, Walkers has ceased the project in April 2022. Nevertheless the company is maintaining its commitment to waste reduction and it is shifting its effort to developing easier to recycle plastic packaging as well as packaging partially made of recycled content.

The company is also active on the policy side, and it is pushing for the government to introduce household collection of flexible plastics by 2027.

The recycled packets have been transformed into plant pots, playgrounds, park benches, and even the foundations of a community football pitch in the company hometown of Leicester.

AT THE WALKERS LEICESTER FACTORY 25% OF ELECTRICITY IS GENERATED BY POTATO PEEL