Alter Eco is giving its chocolate bars a sustainable glow-up. The organic brand has teamed up with packaging heavyweight Amcor to roll out a recyclable, paper-based and reduced-weight pack across its core range. Hannah Barnett reports on the latest innovation from the French confectionary space.
French chocolate brand Alter Eco has teamed up with global packaging specialist Amcor to overhaul the packaging on its 200g chocolate bar range, introducing a recyclable, paper-based and reduced-weight solution for the French market.
Known for sourcing organic cacao through fair and transparent supply chains, Alter Eco identified packaging as a key focus area within its wider sustainability strategy. The brief was clear: cut pack weight and complexity, without losing the premium look and feel that shoppers expect from the brand.
Working alongside Swiss co-packer HALBA, Amcor supported the transition to AmFiber™ Performance Paper, replacing the previous cardboard sleeve and aluminium foil wrap with a lighter, single-material structure. The new design features a natural kraft look with a matte finish, helping reinforce Alter Eco’s authentic shelf presence.
“This project illustrates our commitment to innovation, combining reduced environmental impact with uncompromising quality” said Anne Descarsin, R&D pack manager. “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.”
One of the biggest technical challenges came with the bar containing whole almonds. The textured surface meant the new pack had to deliver a smooth, high-quality appearance while still offering strong protection. According to the partners, AmFiber™ Performance Paper met that brief.
The redesign delivers up to 61% weight reduction across the three SKUs and the packs can now be recycled in the paper stream in France. The fibre used is FSC®-certified and aligned with CEPI and 4evergreen guidelines.
“Paper-based packaging combines strong shelf appeal with a well-established perception of sustainability,” said Janice Narainsamy, senior product development engineer. “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.”
Find out more from Inside Food and Drink here…