Cadbury, New Zealand and Australia have a world first with its 30 percent recycled soft plastic packaging for Dairy Milk, Caramilk and Old Gold family blocks. The switch from single-use material to recyclable soft plastic will see 120 tonnes of packaging waste diverted from landfill.
Mondelez International CEO, Dirk Van de Put, visited Australia for the first time in four years to celebrate the sustainability measure.
“The development of advanced recycling technology and our significant investment in recycled soft plastic means it’s now possible for Cadbury fans to enjoy their favourite treats more sustainably here in Australia,” he said.
“We started this process by targeting our larger packaging sizes to maximise our impact, but we’re committed to using more recycled plastic in our packaging in the coming years, as access and availability of advanced recycling technology increases.”
“We have been working hard on innovating our packaging and finding solutions that rely on less virgin materials. This world first for Cadbury is another example of us tackling the global challenges presented by packaging waste. On top of us tapping into the very latest technology to source recycled material for our Cadbury Dairy Milk blocks, we are also continuing to advocate for advanced recycling solutions and infrastructure here in New Zealand," said Cara Liebrock, Managing Director of Mondelez New Zealand.
"We are continuing to see the Food & Grocery sector front up with solutions to the environmental challenges that we are facing and this example by Mondelēz is no different. “I’m immensely proud of the leadership food manufacturers are taking in the area of sustainability and applaud this initiative by Mondelēz to help drive a more circular economy," said Katherine Rich, CEO of the New Zealand Food & Grocery Council.
The recycled plastic material will be used in the Cadbury Dairy Milk family block ranges and made at the Cadbury Tasmania factory.
"By clearly promoting the scheme on pack, Mondelēz plays an important role in driving consumer behaviour for recycling soft plastics. Introducing recycled plastic is the next step in driving a more circular economy and underscores the importance of investing in emerging technologies," said Lyn Mayes, Manager of The Packaging Forum's Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme.
