An idea born from the Federal Government’s first National Plastics Summit, Tasmanian-based Cadbury Australia announced a ‘breakthrough’ in recycled packaging.

As part of this project, which is currently under trial and involves the use of recycled plastic in its packaging, Cadbury has committed to purchasing enough recycled plastic packaging to wrap 50 million family blocks of chocolate. 

Cadbury Australia parent company Mondilez International’s Australia, NZ and Japan president Darren O’Brien said while Cadbury was currently accessing the very latest technology from overseas to source recycled material, it was focussed on creating demand for recycled product.

“We know that demand for circular packaging will continue to grow and we’d love to see recycling technology built in Australia,” O’Brien said.

“Our significant investment gives local industry the confidence it needs to invest in advanced recycling technology that will be vital for Australia to achieve a truly circular economy.”

Minister for the environment Sussan Ley visited Cadbury Australia in Hobart at the end of last year to see the latest trials of recycled plastic packaging and announce that a National Plastics Design Summit will be held in Canberra on February 14.

“The summit will focus on designing reusable, recyclable or compostable plastic products in every-day applications and I am challenging companies to come forward armed with ideas and clear commitments,” Ley said.

“We simply can’t keep creating virgin plastic on the scale we are today and this summit will look at keeping plastics in use as long and as often as possible, adding value to the material multiple times. 

“The Summit will explore opportunities to unlock growth for new industries and new markets.

“The latest prototypes unveiled [at Cadbury Australia] show that change is possible and that markets are there for recycled product.

“This exciting development in recycling soft plastics can be traced back to collaboration between companies at the first national waste summit in 2020 and collaboration with industry is at the heart of our transformation of Australia’s recycling industry.

Ley added that Australia has set National Packaging Targets for 2025 including a 20 per cent average of recycled content in plastic packaging and the key to achieving those will be driving innovation rather than regulation.

“As we continue to work with consumers and industry in expanding local recycling capability, the goal will be to process more and more recycled plastic in Australia,” she said.