Mondelēz International, Inc. announces a move to recyclable packaging for its cheese brands, Dairylea, the number one [1] processed cheese brand in the UK and Philadelphia, the number one soft white cheese brand [2] in the UK and Ireland.
The business has now moved away from Polystyrene into widely recycled PET plastic for Philadelphia Mini Tubs and Handi Snacks packaging, removing approximately 487 tons of Polystyrene. This latest move is part of the UK business’ Pack Light and Pack Right strategy which supports Mondelēz International’s global goal of achieving 100% recyclable packaging, reducing its use of virgin plastic in its rigid plastic packaging by 25% and adding clear recycling labeling information to support consumers to recycle right by 2025.
The UK business is also harnessing the latest technologies to effect this move; Dairylea Lunchables now use recycled plastic (RPET) content in its packaging as a result of a design optimization project reducing the virgin plastic needed by 75% or approximately 276 tons per annum.
As of the end of 2022, Philadelphia will become the first major cheese brand to pioneer the use of chemical recycling, an important step in the company’s goal to reducing its impact on the environment and its commitment to using 5% recycled content across all plastic packaging by 2025. These actions are part of a broader plan aimed at reducing the use of virgin plastic packaging by 10,000 tons in five years [3].
Louise Stigant, UK Managing Director, Mondelēz International, said “Snacking Made Right means making our products with packaging people can recycle, it means making decisions for the long term that enable a circular economy. I am enormously proud to share this latest move on our journey towards our 2025 goals to better protect people and planet.”
Earlier this year Mondelēz Interational joined forces with retailers and other FMCG leaders to finance and launch the Flexible Plastics Fund. The fund is designed to drive progress towards household collection of flexible plastic for recycling. Mondelēz International is also a member of the UK Plastics Pact and a signatory of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastic Economy Global Commitment.
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[1] Total Spreads & Portions, Nielsen, MAT W.E. 26th Dec 2020
[2] AC Nielsen W.E 26th Dec 2020
