One of Britain’s best loved chocolate bars is making the switch towards recycled packaging.
Mondelēz International has announced that Cadbury Dairy Milk will be made with packaging containing up to 30% recycled plastic.
Cadbury, the UK’s biggest food brand, says the innovation will be rolled out on more than 28 million sharing bars in the UK and Ireland in 2022.
Mondelēz International has already begun using 75% recycled plastic (RPET) content in packaging for its Dairylea Lunchables and Snackers ranges in the UK, whilst it has plans to begin using rPET in its Philadelphia range from next year.
The company has committed to reduce its use of virgin plastic material in its packaging portfolio by 5% globally by 2025, whilst it is investing over £21 million a year in technology, resources and recycling infrastructure around the world.
With an acceleration in this investment anticipated over time, the manufacturing giant aims to have invested over £215m in helping to create a more sustainable future for plastics by 2025.
“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 Mondelēz International UK Managing Director Louise Stigant.
“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.”
Mondelēz International this year helped set up the Flexible Plastics Fund – designed to drive up UK recycling rates of flexible plastic through front of store collections, with a long-term aim of including this material within household collections. It is also 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,” said Marcus Gover, CEO at the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP), which leads the UK Plastic Pact.
“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.”
