Our approach Packaging plays a critical role in preserving the safety, nutrition and quality of the food we make. It presents challenges in terms of raw materials used in production as well as the waste generated when improper disposal occurs. Packaging is also the top sustainability issue with consumers. General Mills works to reduce the environmental impact of packaging by increasing use of recycled and recyclable materials, innovating to make our materials better, and leading through external collaboration. We are focused on protecting the attributes of the food while giving consumers a positive experience with our packaging, from shelf to bin. Given the many different types of packaging in our products, innovation in this space requires significant time, investment and collaboration. Ambition: Our packaging ambition is that all General Mills brands will design 100% of packaging to be recyclable or reusable by 2030. Progress: Through fiscal 2021, 89% of our packaging was recyclable (by weight). Our actions: n 100% of our fiber packaging is from sustainable sources, using either recycled materials or virgin wood fiber, avoiding deforestation. n We are innovating in plastic packaging, including bio-plastic film and recycled content in cereal box liners. n We are partnering with third-party suppliers of recyclable packaging to launch innovative solutions. (See the Nature Valley example below.) n We consistently seek opportunities to reduce or eliminate packaging materials, such as primary and secondary film, through lightweighting and removal. n We are supporting the development and use of recycling infrastructure by educating consumers; more than two-thirds of our products in the U.S. included How2Recycle labels, developed by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. n We are leveraging external collaboration to drive industry- wide advancement in infrastructure, including with The Recycling Partnership and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. Packaging In early 2021, General Mills launched the first store drop-off recyclable snack bar wrapper for our Nature Valley bars, coupled with a consumer education campaign on how to recycle them. Wrappers recycled through store drop-off programs are turned into new materials like composite lumber. To encourage adoption of this technology and accelerate the benefits of scale, General Mills has decided to not pursue a patent. We urge others in the industry to develop recyclable solutions, including polyethylene- based designs that can be certified for recycling within the store drop-off program. In 2019, Annie’s Homegrown and supply chain partners Charter NEX and Envision Plastics worked together to develop a new cereal liner that uses at least 35% postconsumer recycled (PCR) HDPE and is suitable for direct food contact. The Annie’s Friends cereal box includes special consumer- facing messaging around the use of recycled content. Launching food-grade PCR is revolutionary for the industry and took more than 20 years to develop from idea to on-pack. We have expanded the use of PCR film from one product to the full portfolio of Annie’s cereals and are now moving to include it in Cascadian Farms cereal as well. General Mills recognized for innovation by Sustainable Packaging Coalition Innovation in Recovery award winner Innovation in Responsible Sourcing winner 23% Plastic General Mills packaging materials * *F21 percentage of finished product packaging material by weight, including product and transportation packaging 57% 2% 1% 1% Fiber Composite cans Glass Aluminum 16% Steel GENERAL MILLS GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY 35 Food Planet People Community
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