Plymouth’s Lord Mayor, Kathy Watkin, has visited Burts Snacks’ factory to celebrate National Recycling Week and see how the Devon-based crisp maker is driving sustainability in the UK snack industry.
During the visit on Friday 26 September, the Lord Mayor toured the Plymouth site, met the team, and learned about Burts’ major progress in cutting waste and reducing its environmental impact.
Leading the way in sustainable crisp packaging
One of Burts’ biggest milestones this year has been the launch of new crisp packaging made with 55% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic – the highest level currently used in the UK’s hand-cooked crisp sector. The eco-friendly packs are now available across Burts’ most popular flavours, including:
- Lightly Sea Salted
- Sea Salt & Malt Vinegar
- Mature Cheddar & Onion
- Devon Roast Beef
This innovation has already been shortlisted for The Grocer’s New Product & Packaging Awards 2025.
Cutting carbon, waste and water use
Burts is also working towards achieving carbon neutrality across all its factories by 2027. The company now tracks live carbon data from potato suppliers in Cornwall and Somerset, helping farmers cut emissions.
Other sustainability achievements include:
- Zero landfill – food waste is diverted to animal feed and biogas, while waste oil becomes biodiesel.
- 20% less packaging across crisp bags.
- Smarter water management, including new treatment systems at London and Leicester factories.
Local impact in Plymouth and beyond
Chris Lloyd, Head of Health, Safety & Sustainability at Burts Snacks, said:
“We were delighted to welcome the Lord Mayor of Plymouth to our factory during National Recycling Week. It was a great opportunity to show the work our team has been doing locally and the steps we have taken to make our business more sustainable.
Launching our 55% PCR crisp packs across our top-selling flavours is a real highlight for the year, but our commitment goes beyond packaging.
From working hand-in-hand with farmers, to eliminating waste to landfill and using water responsibly, we’re proud of the progress we’re making here in Devon and are determined to keep pushing the industry forward.”
About Burts
Founded in Devon in 1999, Burts Snacks is known for its award-winning, hand-cooked crisps made with Red Tractor assured British potatoes. The brand has earned multiple accolades in 2024, including gold wins at the Taste of the West Awards and platinum at the Food Drink Devon Awards for its Reaper Chilli & Lime Ridges.
