UK – Cadbury Dairy Milk made in Bournville and sold in the UK and Ireland is to be made with packaging containing up to 30% recycled plastic, a statement from Mondelēz International has revealed.
The transition to recycled packaging is expected to commence in 2022 with an initial rollout of the packaging innovation on more than 28 million sharing bars.
The shift, according to Mondelēz is part of a broader global commitment by the business to reduce the use of virgin plastic material in its overall plastic packaging portfolio by 5% by 2025, assuming a constant portfolio mix.
Mondelēz International is already using 75% recycled plastic (RPET) content in its Dairylea Lunchables and Snackers packaging in the UK.
“This next step in our journey to reduce our use of virgin plastic in our iconic Cadbury range is a really important one, which I am very proud of,” said Louise Stigant, UK Managing Director, Mondelēz International.
“We are committed to reducing waste and closing the loop on packaging – keeping valuable materials within the economy and out of the environment. Our increased use of recycled plastic will drive demand for this material and reduce our need to produce new, virgin plastic.”
To achieve this goal, the company revealed that it is investing over £21 million a year across the globe in technology, resources, and recycling infrastructure and anticipates an acceleration in this investment over time.
By 2025, the maker of Oreo and Ritz aims to have invested over £215m in helping to create a more sustainable future for plastics.
Mondelēz International is a member of the UK Plastics Pact and a signatory of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastic Economy Global Commitment.
“Action is urgently needed to address the complex challenges around plastic bags and wrapping, which represents nearly a quarter of all UK consumer plastic packaging,” Marcus Gover, CEO at WRAP which leads the UK Plastic Pact said.
“Moves towards recycled content are important in reducing the demand on natural resources, and I am pleased Mondelez International will include recycled plastic from next year on this household brand as part of its work toward the UK Plastic Pact targets.”
Earlier this year Mondelēz International joined forces with retailers and other FMCG leaders to finance and launch the Flexible Plastics Fund which was designed to drive up UK recycling rates of flexible plastic through front-of-store collections.
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