Packaging
How food gets to you and what happens after.
Our packaging ambition to protect food and reduce waste
We design packaging to improve recyclability and reusability.
Our ambition is for all General Mills brands to design 100% of our packaging to be recyclable or reusable by 2030.
This means rethinking materials, reducing what we use and helping build a more circular system.
How we’re advancing packaging
Progress comes down to three things: what packaging is made of, how it’s designed and what happens to it after use.
As of fiscal 2025, approximately 95% of our packaging is designed to be recyclable or reusable by weight.
We’re reducing the overall amount of plastic, steel and other materials we use for packaging. For plastic specifically, we’re simplifying what goes into each package, moving away from complex, multi-material formats that are harder to recycle.
We’re also working with suppliers to reduce emissions across our packaging supply chain.
Building a circular packaging system
Recycling packaging depends on more than the packaging itself. It depends on the recycling infrastructure, community access and people knowing what to do with something when they’re done with it.
That’s why we work with industry partners and communities to strengthen those systems, and why we support clearer labeling and consumer education so it’s easier to understand how to recycle packaging.
Balancing performance and sustainability
Packaging needs to do more than one job. It must protect food, maintain quality and meet high safety standards, while also reducing environmental impact.
We evaluate tradeoffs between recyclability, quality and safety, and greenhouse gas impact and functionality, testing and refining our packaging to make sure it holds up through everyday use, from store to pantry storage to the table and on the go.
Our approach in practice
We focus on three areas to drive progress:
- Innovation by developing new materials and formats that reduce environmental impact while still working as intended
- Reuse by increasing the use of recycled and reusable materials
- Collaboration by working with partners to strengthen recycling systems
Our commitment
We’re focused on packaging that supports both people and the planet, protecting food, reducing waste and giving materials a second life after they leave your kitchen.
Frequently asked questions
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What is General Mills’ packaging goal?Our goal is for all our brands to design 100% of our packaging to be recyclable or reusable by 2030.
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How much of your packaging is recyclable today?Approximately 95% of our packaging is currently designed to be recyclable or reusable by weight.
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What materials are used in your packaging?Primarily fiber, along with smaller amounts of plastic, steel and other materials.
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How is General Mills improving plastic packaging?We’re simplifying plastic materials to make them easier to recycle, increasing recycled content and supporting improvements in recycling systems.
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Why is packaging important for food?It protects food safety and quality, helps extend shelf life and ensures products reach people in good condition.
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How does packaging relate to sustainability?It affects how materials are used, how waste is managed and how products move through the system. Improving packaging helps reduce its environmental impact over time.
Our approach
Reuse
Collaborate
Innovate
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