The Smarties tube is one of the most recognisable pieces of sweet packaging in Britain, which made it a genuinely visible test case when Nestlé decided to take plastic out of it entirely.
A two-year project before the public announcement
Nestlé's move away from plastic packaging on Smarties didn't happen overnight. Work on developing paper-based packaging for the whole range reportedly began in 2018, with a UK team tasked with the job. The first result reached shelves in June 2020, when the Smarties sharing block became available in paper packaging — described in trade press as a world first for a global confectionery brand.
The full switch, announced January 2021
Nestlé formally announced in January 2021 that every Smarties format — sharing bags, multipacks, tubes and the giant hexatube — would move to recyclable paper packaging. The company said the change would remove roughly 250 million plastic Smarties packs globally each year, and framed it as part of a broader pledge to make all Nestlé packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025, alongside cutting virgin plastic use by a third.
A genuine first for the category
Nestlé describes Smarties as the first global confectionery brand to complete a switch like this across its entire plastic packaging range, rather than just one or two formats. It's worth noting that some earlier sources mention plastic-free tube changes going back further, so the full packaging history of the tube specifically is less clean-cut than the 2021 full-range switch, which is the clearly documented milestone.
What we stock
We currently carry Smarties Milk Chocolate Tube 38g, the 38g price-marked pack, and the Milk Chocolate Tube Multipack 3 Pack 102g, all in stock now. Browse the rest of our Smarties range.
Frequently asked questions
When did Smarties switch from plastic to paper packaging?
Nestlé announced the switch in January 2021, after a project that began in 2018; the sharing block had already moved to paper in June 2020.
Why did Nestlé make the change?
Part of a pledge to make all packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025 and cut virgin plastic use by a third, removing about 250 million plastic Smarties packs a year.
Was Smarties the first chocolate brand to do this?
Nestlé describes it as the first global confectionery brand to switch all of its plastic packaging to recyclable paper.
What does Supreme Sweets stock?
Smarties Milk Chocolate Tube 38g, the 38g price-marked pack, and the 3-pack multipack at 102g, all currently in stock.