Snack Giant Cuts 1,000 Tons of Virgin Plastic in Europe

The maker of Oreos, Cadbury, and Milka chocolates just proved that big companies can make big environmental changes without sacrificing the snacks we love.

Mondelēz International announced it has successfully replaced rigid plastic packaging trays with versions made from roughly 80% recycled plastic across several of its most popular European brands. The transformation impacts beloved products including Milka pralines, Oreo cookies, Chips Ahoy, and Cadbury Dairy Milk bars sold in the UK, France, Spain, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

The numbers tell an impressive story. By incorporating about 1,000 tons of recycled PET plastic into packaging in 2025 alone, the company is preventing that same amount of virgin plastic from being produced. That's the equivalent weight of roughly 200 elephants in new plastic that won't enter the waste stream each year.

"Replacing PET plastic trays with rPET is a major step towards reducing our virgin plastic usage and contributing to a more circular packaging economy," says Catherine Burgeat, sustainability senior director for Europe at Mondelēz International. The company achieved its global goal of 5% recycled content compared to 2020 levels.

The company isn't relying on just one approach. It's using both mechanical recycling, which cleans and reprocesses used plastics, and chemical recycling, which breaks plastic down to molecular building blocks for reuse in food packaging. Cadbury Dairy Milk in the UK now contains roughly 80% recycled plastic in its tablet packaging as of 2025.

Mondelēz is also testing digital watermark technology in Germany through a partnership with HolyGrail 2030. The tiny invisible codes help sorting facilities identify and separate plastics more accurately, potentially unlocking new sources of food-grade recycled materials.

The Ripple Effect

This shift demonstrates how consumer goods companies can drive real change in the recycling industry. By creating consistent demand for recycled plastics at massive scale, Mondelēz is helping make the business case for better collection and processing infrastructure across Europe. When a company this size commits to recycled materials, it pushes suppliers, competitors, and entire industries to follow suit.

The transformation also shows shoppers that sustainability improvements don't require sacrificing product quality or familiarity. Your Oreos still taste the same, they just come in packaging that's significantly better for the planet.

Looking ahead, Mondelēz plans to continue investing in diverse recycling technologies and circular packaging solutions across Europe. When major brands make sustainability a priority, everyone wins.