Eggs-traordinary changes: Cadbury Australia introduces reduced-plastic packaging for Easter specials
The confectionery giant said that the Cadbury Hollow Hunting Egg plastic crates have been switched to 12- and 24-pack cardboard cartons, which save 131,000kg of plastic, while the plastic blister and excess cardboard in some Cadbury Easter Gift Boxes will be removed, reducing over 200,000kg of packaging.
These products are part of Cadbury’s 2024 Easter range that is sold in Australia and New Zealand.
“Packaging is one of the most prominent sustainability topics for consumers. They believe it is the responsibility of companies to provide sustainable packaging and have indicated that they’re willing to pay more to support brands who are acting to improve their impact.
“Although product protection is a must and plastic delivers on this, consumers are highly interested in recyclable, reduced and reusable packaging options. They consider that the most important action brands can take is to ‘come up with new ways to tackle plastic waste’, and expect to see innovation in this area,” Stephanie Saliba, Director of Corporate and Government Affairs – Japan, Australia and New Zealand at Mondelez International, told FoodNavigator-Asia.
In addition, it is said that the packaging changes for this Easter are “one of the biggest and boldest ever”.
“Over the last two years, we have been working to redesign our packaging, preserve the taste and quality of our Easter products, and deliver a positive change for Cadbury fans. The move forms part of Mondelez’s commitment to make its packaging better for people and the planet, through reducing and evolving packaging and improving recycling systems.
“We remain dedicated to providing the same delicious Cadbury experience this Easter, whether you’re hunting with family members or gifting one of our iconic products to a loved one. We’ll work hard to make sure consumers are able to find the new-look packs in stores as well as sharing why we’ve made these important changes.”
Cadbury recently announced that the firm would be using approximately 50% recycled plastic (mass balance) for the wrappers across its blocks, bars and pieces ranges produced in Australia from Q1 of 2024.
“A guiding principle for Mondelez is to make packaging light and right. This approach means reducing the amount of packaging used while also innovating to simplify materials so they can be recycled, and using recycled materials where possible.
“The company is always looking for ways to drive change across all its portfolios to not only help achieve internal and external targets, but importantly, also meet expectations of customers and consumers.”
Multi-pronged efforts
Cadbury has signed a deal with global packaging company Amcor to invest in Licella Holdings to progress one of the first advanced recycling facilities in Australia.
Licella leverages its patented Catalytic Hydrothermal Reactor (Cat-HTR) technology to recycle soft plastic waste into a crude oil suitable for making food-grade plastic packaging.
Through the partnership, Mondelez will have access to recycled content from this site to meet much of its soft plastic packaging needs in Australia and greatly decrease the use of virgin plastic.
“This investment is a win for consumers and the country at large, marking a significant move towards meeting the nation’s 2025 sustainable packaging targets,” Saliba added.
Earlier this year, Cadbury launched Snacking Right Hub, an online platform that contains up-to-date local recycling and disposal advice for its product portfolio.
“Accessible via a QR code being rolled out on pack, the platform is intended to support consumers in disposing their packaging thoughtfully and to keep them informed of Mondelez’s broader sustainability initiatives.
“For instance, the platform provides information on the company’s efforts in supporting a circular packaging economy, sourcing of key ingredients, and a guide on mindful snacking.”
