Quality Street is axing the famous bright plastic wrapping on its chocolates to make them more environmentally friendly – and stop nearly two billion wrappers a year ending up in landfill.

The change to the foil wrapping comes after 86 years and is expected to be made in time for Christmas.

Chocolates such as strawberry delight will continue to come in bright wrapping which will instead be coated in a vegetable-based wax.

Quality Street manufacturers Nestle said it believes people will respond “positively” when it unveils the new plastic-free wrappings in the coming weeks.

Head of sustainability, Cheryl Allen, said: “Quality Street is a brand that people feel very strongly about.

“We know that opening the lid and seeing ‘the jewels’, as we call them, is really important.

“We think we’ve done a really good job with the redesign and feel confident that people will respond positively.”

Around 1.7 billion Quality Street chocolates are enjoyed every year in the UK.

Nestle has been working for a number of years to reduce packaging and food waste across its products.

Read more from Sky News:
Lidl ordered to melt its chocolate bunnies

On its website, the company says: “Packaging helps protect food and beverages, ensure product quality and safety, communicate nutritional information and prevent food waste.

“However, these essential requirements should not come at the expense of the planet.

“That’s why we are continually developing more sustainable packaging and committed to reducing waste from packaging.”

Related posts:

People aged 56 to 59 invited to book in for a COVID jab from next week England vs Croatia: Live updates as Three Lions start Euro 2020 campaign Senior doctors condemn PM’s easing of England’s restrictions as ‘irresponsible’ Summer’s back! Temperatures of 30C forecast after flashfloods and storms hit parts of London Colin Pitchfork to be freed after 1980s schoolgirl rapes and murders as government loses challenge A&E to ward bed waiting time at its longest ever, NHS England data shows Average UK petrol and diesel prices hit record high, new data shows Metropolitan Police Federation says it has ‘no faith’ in Sadiq Khan following Cressida Dick resignation Ex-ambassador found dead in forest was suffering from ‘extreme stress’ while working on COVID taskforce, inquest told Met to appeal against ruling Sarah Everard vigil organisers’ rights were breached Chris Pincher refuses to answer questions in awkward exchange following PM’s downfall Infected blood victims should get £100k each compensation ‘without delay’, inquiry says