AUSTRALIA – Swiss packaging titan Amcor has inked a pact with Cadbury Australia, a subsidiary of Mondelēz International, to supply about 1,000 tonnes of post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic for encasing the confectionery giant’s core chocolate assortment.
This endeavor aims to expedite Cadbury’s endeavors to curtail its dependence on virgin plastic for packaging its chocolate lineup.
The maneuver is also anticipated to halve Cadbury’s requirement for virgin plastic in core chocolate products, in accordance with the company’s 2024 projections concerning sales volumes and wrappers devoid of recycled plastic.
The shift toward recycled material packaging is slated to kick off in the first quarter of this year, initially encompassing chocolate blocks and subsequently extending to the bar spectrum, including Crunchie, Twirl, and Cherry Ripe.
Consequently, this recycled packaging will permeate the pieces assortment, encompassing products like Roses and Favourites.
Darren O’Brien, president of Mondelēz International Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, remarked, “Reducing virgin plastic usage and championing a circular packaging economy are focal points for our enterprise, and this recent deal to procure recycled plastic marks another pivotal stride in our trajectory.”
In 2022, the company procured approximately 30%, utilizing a mass balance methodology, of plastic for its 160g to 185g Cadbury Dairy Milk family blocks packaging made in Australia from recycled materials.
Through this fresh accord, Cadbury aims to elevate the utilization of recycled plastic from the prior 30% to roughly 50% across its array of chocolate blocks, bars, and pieces fabricated in Australia.
The firm emphasized that this 50% reduction in virgin plastic does not encompass the mass of adhesives and inks utilized in the packaging.
This latest declaration aligns with Mondelēz International’s enduring commitment to locally recycle plastic waste in Australia.
Additionally, in conjunction with Amcor, Mondelēz International invested in Licella in August 2023 to bolster the establishment of a cutting-edge soft plastics recycling plant in Melbourne.
Slated for operationalization by 2025, this facility will initially handle 20,000 tonnes of end-of-life plastic annually, with blueprints to amplify its capacity to 120,000 tonnes yearly.
Dubbed ‘Advanced Recycling Victoria,’ the plant will leverage Licella’s Catalytic Hydrothermal Reactor, harnessing advanced hydrothermal liquefaction technology.
Through the utilization of heated and pressurized water, this technology transmutes end-of-life plastic into a substitute for crude oil.
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