Packaging changes result in Cadbury owner removing 1,000 tonnes of virgin plastic

Mondelez International has announced a reduction of over 1,000 tonnes of virgin plastic within the UK during 2023 as a result of positive packaging changes made to several products, including two iconic Cadbury Christmas gifts.

Selected Christmas selection boxes and Milk Tray, now include trays made with 80 per cent rPET – post consumer recycled PET, which is widely collected as part of household recycling. Additionally, Cadbury Milk Tray has removed the cellophane plastic wrapping from the outside of the product.

These projects are another example of how the business is delivering on the companies ‘Pack Light and Right’ sustainable packaging strategy and are part of the wider global business ambitions to reduce virgin plastic in rigid plastic packaging by at least 25 per cent and in all plastic packaging by 5 per cent by 2025.

Of the 123 businesses that contributed data to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation 2023 Global Commitment Progress Report, Mondelez International were singled out as the brand that reported the highest tonnage elimination of plastic packaging: over 12,000 metric tonnes.

The news comes following previous packaging developments which were made to the Cadbury Dairy Milk (110g) bar sharing bar which is made in Bournville and now includes 30 per cent certified recycled plastic within its packaging. This packaging innovation used the mass balance approach - certified by ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification).

Later this year Mondelez will initiate the next phase of its packaging strategy as it plans to replace the rPET used in Christmas Selection Box Trays with cardboard.

Joanna Dias, UK sustainability lead at Mondelez International, said: “I am proud to see even more positive changes being made to packaging across Mondelez’s portfolio, the innovation and drive from the business to make a significant difference and achieve its ambitious net-zero targets is clear to see.

“At Mondelez we want to accelerate the impact and meaningful change we can make as business, and projects such as this to reduce the amount of virgin plastic in a number of our products demonstrates just that.”

Through improved systems, Mondelez aim to create a circular economy for all materials and lead the development of capabilities to scale the necessary UK recycling infrastructure - especially packaging made from flexible plastics.

That’s why they are a founding partner of Flex Collect - the UK’s biggest flexible plastic household collection and recycling pilot, which released its Interim Report earlier this year.

The report showcases positive findings from the kerbside flexible plastic collection pilots currently running across seven local authorities, spanning nearly 30,000 households in the UK.

Working in partnership with SUEZ UK, RECOUP, WRAP, Zero Waste Scotland and Ecosurety this report and the pilots will provide many valuable insights ahead of mandatory kerbside flexible plastic collections in March 2027.

More information about Mondelez’s sustainable packaging goals, progress and projects can be found in their latest Snacking Made Right report showcasing the company's progress in 2023 against their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) priorities.