THOUGHTFUL Packaging Disposal
At Cadbury, we take packaging waste seriously. Discover how to dispose of your packaging thoughtfully so we can all do our bit for the planet.
What material is my packaging made of?
Can I recycle it?
Cardboard
In Australia, almost all cardboard can be recycled at home. Simply flatten and place it in your recycling bin. After collection, it can be turned into other cardboard products. Most cardboard is produced from recycled paper.
Rigid or hard packaging
You can easily recycle rigid or hard packaging, such as tubs, jars, and tins, by placing them in your recycling bin. Remember to leave the lids on and remove any soft plastic packaging. Recycling these types of packaging materials conserves natural resources and diverts non-biodegradable waste from landfill. Instead, new products can be produced. Note, the tamper seal at the top of the following product packaging cannot be recycled and must be placed in the garbage bin – Cadbury Roses Tin, Cadbury Favourites Tin, Cadbury Dairy Milk Tin and Cadbury Favourites Bucket.
Aluminium foil
Aluminium foil can be recycled in home recycling bins. With small pieces of foil, such as on Easter eggs, collect the wrappers and tightly compact them into a ball the size of your fist (20mm minimum). Then place the ball into your recycling bin. Bunching the foil helps prevent it being lost during the recycling process.
Soft plastics
Together with other industry partners, we’re supporting the National Plastics Recycling Scheme (NPRS) which is currently trialling soft plastic collection in kerbside recycling bins in selected councils.
Learn more about how to recycle different materials near where you live thanks to Planet Ark.
Unfortunately, REDcycle's soft plastics recycling scheme has closed, so most Australians must discard soft plastics in their garbage bin. However, some councils offer soft plastics recycling services. Check directly with your council.
Currently, 99% of Mondelez products in Australia are designed for recyclability. Work continues on the remaining products, so we achieve 100% of products designed for recyclability by 2025. Cadbury Roll Pack (note: the outer paper can be recycled), Cadbury Hot Chocolate Canister and Cadbury Hot Chocolate Sachets are products we're focusing on. For now, these products will need to be placed in the garbage bin.
OUR PACKAGING
PROGRESS
Your favourite Cadbury Family Blocks* are now wrapped in up to 30% recycled plastic. We’re saving 120 tonnes of plastic from landfill. That’s the equivalent of 206 dairy cows which on average weigh 580kg each. This initiative is a world first for cadbury and another step towards helping establish a circular economy where all plastics are fully recycled and recyclable. *Blocks from 160g to 185g
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WASTE COLLECTION |
SORTING |
ADVANCED RECYCLING TECHNOLOGY |
NEW recycled PACKAGING MATERIAL |
Our factory |
SUPERMARKET |
Cadbury lover |
Questions and Answers
How is Cadbury’s recycled soft plastic packaging made?
In the past, soft plastic packaging has been considered a single use material. However, the development of advanced recycling technology means it’s becoming possible to take soft plastics – like our Cadbury wrappers – and turn them back into soft plastic packaging.
Is the packaging material made in Australia, using recycled Australian waste?
The post-consumer soft plastics used for our recycled content have multiple origins. At the moment, there’s no large-scale capability to recycle soft plastics back into packaging in Australia or New Zealand, but we want there to be.
That’s why we’ve invested in technology pioneers Licella, to progress construction of one of the first at-scale advanced recycling facilities in Australia. Once up and running, there will be enough recycled material to meet much of our soft plastic packaging needs for Australia and New Zealand.
Why is Cadbury transitioning to recycled soft plastic packaging?
Strong and reliable packaging ensures our chocolate arrives to Cadbury fans in the same way it left our factories – fresh, safe and of the highest quality.
Increasing the use of recycled content is a critical factor in the establishment of a true circular economy for sustainable packaging. Reducing our reliance on virgin materials will decrease the pressure we put on the planet’s finite resources and ensure that valuable materials are not lost to landfill.
Cadbury has been sourcing post-consumer recycled plastic for its family blocks range since 2022. In 2024, the company has doubled down on this commitment and aims to use ~50%# (on a mass balance basis^) recycled plastic for its wrappers across its chocolate blocks, bars and pieces range produced in Australia. This will be equivalent to halving its virgin plastic needs to wrap those products.+
Why only 50%?
There continues to be a limited supply globally of food grade post-consumer recycled content and demand is increasing.
This is why we’ve invested in Licella to progress one of the first at-scale advanced recycling facilities in Australia to help meet our soft plastic packaging needs into the future.
This ~50% figure is across our entire core Cadbury chocolate portfolio wrappers and represents another significant step by the brand to support a circular economy for packaging and to address the global waste challenge.
Will the new wrappers change the taste and quality of my chocolate?
Not at all! For over 100 years we’ve been committed to producing the highest quality chocolate. We never compromise on taste.
Our team has worked closely with packaging experts, to source this food grade recycled material and test our new packaging against our highest product quality and food safety standards.
I’ve noticed the recycling icons on my Cadbury wrappers have been replaced by a QR code, why is this?
Evolving recycling advice and infrastructure for soft plastics has prompted us to trial a QR code on pack to support consumers to dispose of their packaging thoughtfully. The platform also includes broader information on our approach to sustainability.
This technology gives flexibility to update recycling guidance for Cadbury lovers that is accurate and timely and ensures new packaging and artwork isn’t needed every time.
^ The sourcing approach used by Mondelēz International for its recycled content, and used by many other companies for many other commodities around the world, is called mass balance. In the case of plastic packaging, mass balance refers to mixing recycled plastic with virgin plastic during the manufacturing of new plastics. This means you can’t trace how much recycled plastic, if any, makes its way into each individual Cadbury product package. Mondelēz International uses ISCC certified material, aligned to a set of sustainability standards. For more on mass balance and ISCC certification, please visit Mass Balance – ISCC System (iscc-system.org)
# The ~50% virgin plastic reduction does not include the mass of adhesives and inks used in the packaging.
+ Based on forecasted 2024 sales volumes and wrappers containing no recycled plastic.
Sustainable Packaging
Strategy
Our packaging
vision
We’re aiming for sustainable packaging that protects our chocolate, delights consumers and does not harm the environment.
Our vision is to achieve net zero pack waste and support a circular pack economy by 2050 through better packaging and improved systems.
Our packaging
approach
We recognise that packaging waste is a major challenge for our planet. We’re working with stakeholders to support a circular economy by ensuring our wrappers can be recycled again and again in the future.
We’re also making strides to reduce plastic packaging use and switch to more easily recyclable materials.
National packaging
targets
Mondelēz is a signatory to the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) and is committed to working towards Australia's 2025 National Packaging Targets.
Through The ANZPAC Plastics Pact (ANZPAC) we're also working towards achieving plastics targets aimed at building a circular economy for plastic.
Making snacking right for people and the planet.
