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Mondelez eliminates 48 million lb of packaging

Mondelez’ first progress report on its Call for Well-Being initiative shows that it is well on its way to meeting its goal of eliminating 50 million lb of packaging by 2015.

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Mondelez International has issued its first report, “The Call for Well-Being, 2013 Progress Report,” highlighting the company’s progress against its global well-being goals. The report details important steps Mondelez has made to meet key well-being metrics in the areas of mindful snacking, sustainability, communities, and safety.

In the area of packaging, Mondelez has made a commitment to eliminate 50 million lb of packaging by 2015. According to the report, the company is on target, with 48 million tons eliminated between 2010 and 2013.

Says the report, “Packaging is part of the joyful experience people have with our brands. It is why we are always looking at new ways to use fewer materials while increasing the amount of recycled content in our packages. Between 2010 and 2013, we eliminated around 48 million pounds of packaging material from our supply chain, so we are well ahead of schedule to reach our goal to eliminate 50 million pounds (22,500 tons) of material by 2015.”

Among the packaging examples provided in the report:

· Cadbury Dairy Milk bars in Australia converted from traditional foil and cardboard packaging to a new, single-layer flow wrap. This eliminated 2.8 million lb of packaging.

  • Jacobs Velvet coffee was relaunched in a new, lighter-weight glass jar, combining consumer appeal with the elimination of more than 10 million lb of packaging weight.

Explains Mondelez, key to the reduction in packaging is the company’s proprietary Eco- Calculator™. “The tool helps us create more environmentally conscious packaging by determining the percentage of post-consumer recycled materials, as well as the amount of energy and greenhouse gas emissions associated with creating and disposing of a pack,” the report reads.

Using data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy, and packaging industry groups, Mondelez’ packaging designers have learned how to use materials more efficiently. In 2013, the company made its Eco-Calculator web-based to make it more accessible to its teams around the world, as well as faster to update. Mondelez also partnered with TerraCycle to “upcycle” waste such as flexible films and convert them into merchandise.

Commenting on the report and Mondelez’ progress toward its goals, Irene Rosenfeld, Chairman and CEO, says, “Our business success is directly linked to enhancing the well-being of the people who make and enjoy our products and to supporting the communities where we grow our ingredients. It’s this belief that inspired our Call For Well-being. We’ve made important progress in answering this call. Yet we realize there’s still more to be done. We’ll continue working with our employees, partners, and communities to develop solutions that help create lasting change.”

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