BRUSSELS – International fresh dairy manufacturer Yoplait became the newest member of a joint industry initiative called Styrenics Circular Solutions, which aims to shift styrenic polymers toward a circular economy.

The value chain initiative involves a number of entities, including retailers, trade associations and research institutions, all of which are seeking to work together with complementary recycling technologies.

Yoplait, one of the world’s foremost yogurt brands, has a goal of making all of its European packaging reusable or recyclable by 2025.

Florian Trohay, corporate social responsibility and sustainability manager at Yoplait, said the company is “delighted” to be joining SCS.

“To be successful in our shared mission for a circular economy requires cooperation between partners all along the value chain and this seemed the perfect moment for us as a brand-owner to join the alliance,” Trohay said. “We actively support the rise of the polystyrene recycling infrastructure. Recycled PS delivers sustainable packaging for our consumers, offering food-safe protective containers that combine recyclability and low carbon footprint with the unique performance properties of PS, such as the easy separation and storage of multipack yogurt pots."

Jens Kathmann, secretary general of SCS, noted that in 2021 Yoplait began working SCS members Intraplás and Trinseo to provide the French market with recycled polystyrene yogurt pots.

“For SCS, the addition of this major brand-owner to our team is a big step forward, broadening and deepening our value chain alliance,” Kathmann said. “We trust they are the first of many brand-owners and indeed retailers that will join us in bringing circular PS to the market.”