Composting the Rainbow: Mars and Printpack Win Sustainable Packaging Award

We’re proud to celebrate this milestone with our partners at Mars Wrigley! Together, we brought the first commercially compostable SKITTLES® peg bag to life, proving that sustainability and performance can coexist beautifully. 

As part of Mars’ continued work to create a healthier planet, the Mars SKITTLES® Commercially Compostable Peg Bag was developed to give consumers a more sustainable way to Taste the Rainbow®. Over the course of three years, the Mars and Printpack teams worked closely to maintain packaging performance, aesthetics, and consumer experience: key necessities for a beloved global brand like SKITTLES®. 

This innovation earned a 2025 AmeriStar Award in Sustainable Packaging, recognizing a breakthrough that keeps the iconic rainbow intact while reimagining what flexible packaging can do for the planet. 

After years of collaboration and testing, the teams developed a compostable, non-petroleum solution that runs on existing packaging equipment and meets rigorous ASTM standards for barrier, seal, and drop performance. Raw materials used in the packaging are considered compostable and are derived from renewable or bio-based materials. 

Certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) in 2024 and verified through real-world composting trials, the bag breaks down in under 90 days, all while maintaining product protection and a familiar user experience for consumers. BPI is the only certifying body in the U.S. for compostability testing, providing trusted third-party verification that compostability claims are accurate and credible. 

Compostable packaging offers a distinctly different end-of-life solution compared to recyclable or landfill-bound materials, by allowing microorganisms to consume and convert the bag into compost. Even food residue left inside the package isn’t considered contamination; in fact, it adds nutrients to the compost. This diversion of packaging and food waste from landfills helps significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by organic material degradation. 

Visually, it’s the same SKITTLES® you know and love, with one key difference: a green “Compost the Rainbow” banner that proudly communicates the compostability. 

Ready to bring your own sustainable packaging vision to life? Printpack’s expertise in compostable materials and flexible packaging innovation can help your brand make a meaningful impact without compromising on performance. Contact us to explore how we can collaborate on your next breakthrough.