Packaging and Plastics
We work hard to use packaging that does more than protect our products and delight our consumers. At Mondelēz International, we strive to continually improve our packaging with the long-term aim of advancing our support for a more circular economy for packaging. We aim to remove unnecessary packaging and simplify packaging materials across the business. Our three-part strategy includes:
Reducing Packaging by aiming to utilize packaging that is lightweight, safe and, where appropriate can be reused or recycled.
Evolving Packaging involves aiming to design our packaging to be recyclable, removing problematic materials, and including recycled plastic, where appropriate, to help reduce packaging waste. Our goal is to use packaging that is designed to be recyclable and continue to use recycled content.
Improving Systems means supporting the development of infrastructure and capabilities with the aim of being able to collect the packaging we place on the market. We support the implementation of effective policy and optimal Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) that helps enable the development of collection systems for all types of packaging. We are collaborating with other companies, policymakers, investors and other key actors to help advance this work.
We have many examples of actions we are taking to help advance sustainable packaging. Highlights include:
- In 2020, we joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Global Commitment and continue to publicly report our progress annually.
- We are a Founding member of the US Flex Film Initiative (USFFI) which aims to advance the collection, sorting and recycling of flexible packaging.
- As founding members of the Circular Action Alliance, we are supporting the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility in Colorado, Oregon, California and other US states.
- From 2025, our UK&I business is wrapping up to 300 million Cadbury bars in 80% recycled plastic, reducing virgin plastic use by approximately 600 MT.
- In Australia, we have invested in a novel technology that converts plastic waste into recycled oil that can be used to produce food contact flexible film. This supports our aim to use up to 50% recycled plastic in Cadbury blocks, bars and pieces wrappers.
- Demonstrating our commitment to collaboration, we continue to co-chair the CGF Plastic Waste Coalition of Action (PWCoA) Taskforce on Flexible plastic packaging, advancing important work to align consumer packaged goods companies on common requirements for flexible paper packaging and principles for effective EPR that includes flexible plastic packaging.