Mondelēz International is vigorously pursuing its goals in the area of sustainable packaging. With advances in recyclability, material substitution and the reduction of new plastic, the snack group aims to drive forward the circular economy. The company's „Snacking Made Right“ Sustainability Report 2024 documents 60 pages of concrete measures and interim targets achieved.
Mondelēz International is therefore pursuing the goal of reducing the use of virgin plastic by five per cent by 2025 compared to 2020. In 2024, the reduction was already 4.6 %. In the area of hard plastics in particular, a reduction of around 150 tonnes was achieved through packaging changes and the use of recyclates, for example by removing plastic trays in biscuit production in Southeast Asia, according to the company.
In addition, the Further increase in the proportion of recyclable packaging: At the end of 2024, around 96 % of packaging was designed to be recyclable according to industry-specific criteria, according to the report.
Innovative material approaches in international markets
In the UK and Ireland, Mondelēz announced that from 2025 it will produce around 300 million Cadbury chocolate bars in packaging with up to 80 % recycled plastic content on an ISCC+ basis. This should avoid the use of around 600 tonnes of virgin plastic every year. The use of recycled PET in biscuit trays in North America has also been expanded.
Furthermore Plastic packaging replaced by alternative materials where this is technically possible and ecologically sensible. For example, Cadbury multipacks (Fingers and Animals) were wrapped in paper; some of the LU biscuit brands were also converted to paper packaging.
Systemic approaches to the circular economy
Mondelēz emphasises the importance of a functioning infrastructure for Collection, sorting and recycling of packaging. To support this process, the company is involved in industry-related initiatives such as the Consumer Goods Forum's Plastic Waste Coalition of Action. The aim is to promote common design guidelines and strengthen Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) models.
According to the information provided, another focus is on the Simplification and reduction of packaging materials and the expansion of collaborations with suppliers, industry partners and political players to implement sustainable packaging solutions.
Source: Mondelēz
