Mondelēz International Announces Significant Packaging Innovation with Philadelphia Packaging Set to be Made with Recycled Plastic

• World’s most popular cream cheese intends to utilize recycled plastic containers starting in 2022 to spread a more sustainable future
  
• Uses recycled material from innovative advanced recycling technology
• Important step in company’s long-term goal to achieve zero net waste        

CHICAGO, Ill., June 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mondelēz International today announced that Philadelphia cream cheese sold across Europe is to be made with recycled plastic packaging, starting from 2022. The iconic brand will pioneer this packaging innovation, representing an important step in the company’s goal to reduce its impact on the environment and its commitment to use 5% recycled content across all plastic packaging.

As the first major cream cheese brand using recycled plastic in its packaging, Philadelphia will scale an innovative technology that that keeps food safe and delicious but doesn’t end up in the environment, helping to advance a more sustainable future for plastic packaging.  “It is vital to find and implement innovative, viable solutions to help stop plastic from getting into the environment, where it doesn’t belong,” said Vince Gruber, Executive Vice President and President, Europe for Mondelēz International. “Philadelphia’s anticipated use of recycled material is an important step in limiting this waste while supporting a closed loop system. As part of our mission to lead the future of snacking by offering the right snack, for the right moment, made the right way our iconic brands are committed to leveraging their scale to reduce our impact on the environment.”

The increased use of recycled plastic will drive demand for recycled material and significantly reduce the need to produce new virgin material, supporting a so-called circular economy for plastic – a sustainable loop that keeps valuable materials in circulation and reduces waste.  With every purchase and recycling of Philadelphia products across Europe, consumers will play an important role in keeping plastic waste out of the environment and meaningfully contribute to a more sustainable future for people and planet.

“Our purpose is to empower people to snack right and a big part of this is making sure our snacks use less energy, water and waste – including integrating more sustainably sourced packaging materials,” said Chris McGrath, Vice President and Chief of Impact, Sustainability and Well-being at Mondelēz International.  “Innovations like advanced recycling help us find sustainable sources of previously hard-to-recycle material and support our journey towards zero net waste. We also know that designing our packaging for recyclability alone won’t solve the problem of plastic waste, which is why we support public-private initiatives to increase recovery and recycling rates across the world.”