Flora Unveils ‘World First’ Plastic-Free Paper Tubs For Vegan Spreads

Flora, a popular vegan spread brand, has introduced plastic-free and recyclable paper tubs for its plant butter spreads. The collaboration between parent company Upfield and Footprint has led to the creation of waterproof and oil-proof packaging that is more sustainable. The roll-out of the new paper packaging began in Austria and will expand to more European countries, with plans to have other Upfield brands adopt the packaging as well. This move is part of Upfield's strategy to replace up to two billion plastic tubs by 2030 and combat 25,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually.

The innovative paper tubs are made using compressed wet paper fibers and can be recycled via local paper recycling. The material is sourced from PEFC-certified suppliers and is expected to be home compostable-certified by 2025. Flora's decision to remove dairy from all its products last year and transition to sustainable packaging shows genuine efforts to reduce its environmental impact. While Upfield still sells dairy products, it has expressed intentions to phase out the use of dairy in its product line to further contribute to sustainability efforts.