Unilever is trialling wrapper-less ice lollies this summer to help the nation cut down on single-use plastic – with the added bonus that it’ll give you quicker access to your Solero.
Multipacks of the organic peach ice lollies will be sold in a recyclable cardboard box with compartments, preventing the need for individual plastic wrappers.
The new box is made from a specially-designed polyethylene-coated cardboard – similar to single-use coffee cups, but with a lower plastic content at 5% – meaning it has been approved to be widely recycled in the UK.
The company is selling the product through online supermarket Ocado to gauge consumer response.
Noel Clarke, from Unilever, said: “As we head towards summer, we’ve listened to our customers and are working hard to rethink plastic packaging for our ice cream ranges.
“If successful and the feedback from customers is positive, this innovative pack could reduce the amount of plastic we use in the future to package our ice creams.”
Helen Bird, strategic engagement manager at Wrap, which manages the UK Plastics Pact to eliminate unnecessary single-use plastic packaging by 2025, welcomed the idea.
“We’re really impressed with the level of innovation and creativity that Unilever, a founding member of The UK Plastics Pact, has shown in developing this new pack,” she said.
“It will be welcomed by shoppers who we know want to be able to recycle the packaging they bring home from supermarkets. We look forward to seeing the results of the trial.”
The new Solero packaging will be on sale from 17 June.