Cadbury has introduced a “first in the world” modification to its iconic chocolate block in an effort to reduce the company’s contribution of single-use plastic to landfills.
Mondelz International, the company that controls the chocolate behemoth, introduced a new, 100 percent recyclable version of its trademark purple packaging.
The chocolate manufacturer stated that it utilised “developing advanced recycling technology” to create soft plastic packaging containing up to 30% recycled material, preventing 120 tonnes of packaging waste from being sent to landfills.
“Until recently, soft plastic packaging was considered a single-use material,” said Dirk Van de Put, chief executive officer of Mondelz International.
“With the development of advanced recycling technology and our substantial investment in recycled soft plastic, Cadbury lovers in Australia can now enjoy their favourite treats in a more sustainable manner.”
Australia is the first nation to receive the new sustainable wrappers, which are releasing initially on family blocks of Cadbury Dairy Milk, Caramilk, and Old Gold.
However, the company stated that it was “dedicated” to implementing eco-friendly packaging across the whole Cadbury product line within the next several years.
Mr. Van de Put continued, “This is just the beginning of our quest to use more recycled plastic in our packaging.”
“We began by focusing on our larger package sizes to maximise our impact, but we’re dedicated to using more recycled plastic in our packaging in the coming years as access to advanced recycling technology grows.”
Cadbury purchased 120 tonnes of recycled stuff from overseas to construct the packaging, but hopes its announcement will demonstrate demand for this material in Australia.
The chief executive officer of the Australian Food and Grocery Council, Tanya Barden, noted that soft plastic packaging plays a vital role in keeping food fresh, reducing food waste, and ensuring product safety.
“However, Australia lacks the capability to recycle soft plastic packaging back into packaging that is safe for food.”
“Through the AFGC, food and grocery manufacturers in Australia are taking the lead in creating a circular economy for soft plastics.”
This week, the first Cadbury family blocks in their new packaging are being distributed to Australia’s leading retailers and supermarkets.
The Australian Federal, State, and Territory Governments established national packaging targets in 2018 with the goal of eliminating “unnecessary single-use plastic packaging” by 2025.
