Quality Street fans confused as wrappers change after 86 years

There's nothing more quintessentially Christmassy than seeing the shiny foil wrapping of Quality Street sweets gazing at you in the tin - but we're waving bye-bye to the iconic packaging

There's one thing we can probably all agree on - when it comes to things that are firm family favourites, we're creatures of habit and don't like change. That's why it's caused a stir that Quality Street have decided to change their iconic shiny packaging in favour of something a little... well, duller.

But, there's a good reason for ending the 86-year tradition. Nestle are replacing the see-through and foil wrappers in favour of a form of waxed paper in order to make their packaging recyclable - therefore helping the environment. The decision hopes to prevent two billion wrappers a year from being thrown into landfill, and consumers will start to notice the change in the coming weeks.

The new wrappers will keep their distinctive colours though, with the hazelnut in caramel purple paper, the coconut eclair in blue, and the fudge in pink.

Just because they are eco-friendly, however, does not mean everyone is happy with the decision, with many making no secret of the fact they're not so keen on the revised design.

Alex Hutchinson, a chocolate historian, who used to be the official archivist at Rowntree Mackintosh, said: "When Harold Mackintosh originally launched Quality Street he specifically designed it to be an explosion of colour, different flavours, different shapes. The wrapping was absolutely key."

People took to Twitter to express their feelings about the new packaging.

Someone tweeted: "Quality Street – flavours may come and go, tubs may shrink but one thing has remained constant since 1936 – the shiny, sparkly, rustling wrappers, made from foil and coloured cellophane. But no more.

"Quality street will now be wrapped in a waxy recyclable paper. It will save two billion bits of wrapping going to landfill but, as my daughter said, when she opened the sample tin and saw the new, dull wrappers: 'What have they done?!'"

They then continued to admit that the environmental impact of the sweet wasn't ideal before the change was made.

"I suppose 2 billion tiny bits of plastic isn't great."

Another wrote: "Good for Nestle, all those cellophane wrappers must have used plenty of oil to make too so it's good they've been changed, but yes it's a little sad they are not the shiny, sparkly jewels they used to be."

Someone else said they preferred the look of the new chocolates, commenting: "I actually much prefer the look of these - they look more childish and colourful and cute!"

"A good move. It's what's inside that counts", one praised.

"They've ruined Christmas", another joked.

"They will still have the same delicious taste", someone reasoned.

What do you think of the new packaging? Let us know in the comments.