Mondelēz International, Inc. has announced that it has completed the replacement of rigid PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) plastic trays with FSC-certified paper trays across its flagship European cookies range within its biscuits’ portfolio.
The transition spans more than 115 cookie products across eight brands – LU, Milka, Granola, Cadbury, Marabou, Chips Ahoy!, Lacta and Freia – reaching consumers in over 25 markets in Europe, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Poland, Spain and the Nordics. This is the largest single packaging sustainability initiative ever undertaken in the company’s European bakery category, covering ~28,000 tons of cookies produced annually.
This transition builds on work already underway. In the UK, Mondelēz International has made significant progress evolving the packaging of some of its most iconic products into paper. This included a trial of Cadbury Heroes in paper tubs in 2025, and introducing paper outer packaging for Cadbury Animals and Mini Fingers Biscuits Multipacks.
Measurable Impact at Scale
Introducing paper trays to more than 115 cookie products is expected to remove ~2,200 tons of virgin plastic per year, representing an ~80% reduction compared to the original plastic packaging**.
This initiative delivers what consumers across Europe care about: packaging they can easily recycle, and the brands they love with less packaging. Each product communicates the plastic reduction on pack, so shoppers can see the difference at a glance.
Major Milestone in Mondelēz International’s Sustainable Packaging Roadmap
This initiative is part of the broader programme through which Mondelēz International is systematically evolving plastic trays across its bakery category. It builds on the company’s track record of packaging innovation, including the incorporation of ~80% recycled PET (rPET) into trays for brands such as Milka, Oreo, Cadbury and Chips Ahoy!, as well as the pioneering use of advanced recycling technology for Cadbury Dairy Milk 80% certified recycled flexible plastic packaging.
“This is a transformation we are proud to have engineered from the ground up. Replacing rigid plastic with paper across 115 products, 8 brands and 25 European markets in a matter of months required rethinking every layer of our packaging – from tray design to logistics. The result speaks for itself: ~2,200 tons of virgin plastic per year, representing ~80% reduction**. As packaging professionals, this is exactly the kind of bold, systemic change we exist to deliver.” — Olivier Kintzig, Biscuits Packaging Director, Europe – Mondelēz International
