Mondelēz Replaces PET Cookie Trays With FSC-Certified Paper
Mondelēz International is replacing rigid PET trays with FSC-certified paper trays across more than 115 cookie products in Europe, reducing the use of virgin plastic in its bakery packaging portfolio.
The packaging change covers eight brands — LU, Milka, Granola, Cadbury, Marabou, Chips Ahoy!, Lacta and Freia — across more than 25 European markets. The affected products represent approximately 28,000 tons of cookies produced annually.
According to Mondelēz, the new paper tray format is expected to eliminate around 2,200 tons of virgin plastic annually, based on projected 2026 production volumes. The company estimates this represents an approximately 80% reduction in plastic compared with the previous packaging format, which combined an outer wrap with a rigid PET tray.
The transition has been implemented across markets including the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Poland, Spain and the Nordic countries. In the UK, products including Cadbury Crunchy Melts, Cadbury Chocolate Chip Cookie and LU Petit Cookie will use the new paper trays.
The move follows other packaging material changes by Mondelēz. Earlier in 2026, the company introduced trays containing approximately 80% recycled PET for selected European brands, resulting in an estimated reduction of around 1,000 tons of virgin plastic annually.
In 2024, Mondelēz also worked with Saica on mono-paper outer packaging for selected LU biscuit multipacks, with the format designed to reduce virgin plastic use.
The latest initiative focuses specifically on replacing rigid plastic trays with fiber-based packaging, while maintaining the structural and protective functions required for cookie packaging during manufacturing, distribution and retail.
At scale, the project demonstrates how packaging converters and food manufacturers are increasingly exploring paper-based tray formats, recycled plastics and packaging redesign as alternatives to virgin plastic components.
