In a world-first for the chocolate brand, Mondelēz International has announced that it will source recycled plastic to use in the wrapping of a range of Cadbury blocks sold in New Zealand and Australia.
The equivalent of 30% of the plastic needed to wrap Cadbury Dairy Milk family block range has been sourced from recycled plastic suppliers and advanced recycling technology has made it possible for Kiwis to include Cadbury wrappers in their soft plastic recycling as well.
Managing director of Mondelēz New Zealand, Cara Liebrock, said the company’s investment in this technology is a step forward in its packaging commitments and a must-do by brands to lead sustainability solutions.
“We have been working hard on innovating our packaging and finding solutions that rely on less virgin materials,” says Liebrock.
“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.”
CEO of the New Zealand Food and Grocery Council, Katherine Rich, also welcomed the move.
“We are continuing to see the food and grocery sector front up with solutions to the environmental challenges that we are facing and this example by Mondelēz is no different,” says Rich.
“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.”
Manager of The Packaging Forum’s Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme, Lyn Mayes, agrees.
“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.”
The first Cadbury Dairy Milk blocks to include recycled soft plastic in its packaging will be available in New Zealand supermarkets from September 2022.
