Mondelez replaces plastic with paper in cookie packaging

Mondelēz International is replacing the plastic trays in cookie packages with 100% FSC-certified paper trays. This allows the manufacturer to save more than 2,200 metric tons of new plastic annually, a reduction of approximately 80% compared to the previous plastic packaging.

Eight brands, 115 products

The paper trays are being introduced for more than 115 products in 25 European markets, including the Benelux, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Spain, and the Scandinavian countries. Eight brands are involved: LU, Milka, Granola, Cadbury, Marabou, Chips Ahoy!, Lacta, and Freia. This is the largest sustainability initiative for packaging ever implemented within Mondelēz International’s European cookie category, the company says. It covers 28,000 metric tons of cookies annually.

Mondelēz International is also taking initiatives in the Benelux region in the area of sustainable packaging innovation. For example, TUC switched to single-material packaging, resulting in a reduction of approximately 30% in plastic per package and an annual savings of about 200 metric tons of plastic. In addition, the entire Côte d’Or Mignonnette range has been transitioned to sustainable outer packaging that is plastic-free and uses 25% less cardboard per package, resulting in a total savings of approximately 17 metric tons of plastic. For the Côte d’Or Mini Bouchée, the foil packaging was replaced with cardboard packaging, saving approximately 7 metric tons of plastic annually compared to the previous packaging.

These efforts are part of a broader European packaging strategy, under which 98% of packaging is already recyclable and the plastic packaging footprint has been reduced by 11.5%, according to Mondelēz International.