“Replacing PET plastic trays with rPET is a major step towards reducing our virgin plastic usage and contributing to a more circular packaging economy.”
The apply of recycling technologies
Throughout Europe, Mondelēz International is working on advancing complementary recycling technologies.
One method is mechanical recycling, which involves collecting, cleaning and reprocessing applyd plastics into new packaging materials.
The company is utilizing this to incorporate recycled PET (rPET) into its trays for its boxed chocolate brands – Milka, Marabou, Mirabelle and Suchard pralines – and its biscuit products – Milka Choco Wafer, Chips Ahoy and Oreo.
Milka Pralines are the company’s top example, with its trays incorporating around 80% rPET and eliminating colour to further enhance its recyclability.
This alter will soon be rolled out across the company’s other brands, assisting to meet its sustainability goals.
The other technology is chemical recycling, which involves breaking down plastic into molecular building blocks, which enables its reapply in food-contact packaging.
Mondelēz International has been one of the early adopters of chemical recycling in Europe.
In the UK, Cadbury Dairy Milk introduced approximately 30% chemically recycled content in 2022, followed by products in Nordic countries in 2024.
A broader adoption of 80% recycled plastic for Cadbury tablet packaging was rolled out in 2025.
Richard Akkermans, Packaging Sustainability Manager Europe at Mondelēz International, states: “Innovation in both mechanical and chemical recycling technologies is essential to increasing the availability of food-contact recycled plastic.
“By working closely with suppliers and value chain partners, we are turning sustainability ambition into practical action.”
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