Associate Manager

From plastic waste to chocolate wrappers: LyondellBasell and Mondelez collaborate on Marabou flexible packaging sourced from recycled plastic. 8/7/2026 12:00:00 PM Global chemical leader LyondellBasell (LYB) announced an innovative flexible packaging solution for Marabou chocolate bars, developed in collaboration with Mondelez International, Amcor, Taghleef Industries and other key industry players. Using LYB CirculenRevive polymers with 100% attributed recycled content via an ISCC PLUS-certified mass balance approach, Mondelez is now able to offer packaging sourced from 75% recycled content, helping transform hard-to-recycle post-consumer mixed plastic waste into high-quality materials for food packaging. "Our collaboration with Mondelez illustrates our shared vision for the future and highlights our ability to provide innovative, high-quality circular solutions tailored to demanding specifications," said Yvonne van der Laan, executive vice president, Sustainable Solutions and Technology Business, LYB. "We're committed to making circular and low carbon solutions work for businesses while creating solutions for everyday sustainable living." Scaling circular polymers through the LYB integrated ecosystem. As LYB continues to expand its circular solutions, the company plans to supply future polymers for Marabou packaging through MoReTec-1, its first commercial-scale catalytic chemical recycling plant under construction in Wesseling, Germany. Once operational, MoReTec-1 will strengthen access to circular feedstock within the LYB integrated ecosystem, which connects advanced sorting and recycling infrastructure with the company's existing crackers and polymerization assets. "This collaboration demonstrates how LYB can connect chemical recycling innovation with the scale and reach of our existing production network," said LYB CEO Peter Vanacker. "As we advance MoReTec-1, we expect the facility to support future polymer supply for Marabou packaging and strengthen our ability to convert hard-to-recycle plastic waste into circular feedstocks for our existing assets. This integrated approach positions LYB to deliver value while advancing our circular and low carbon strategy." Once operational, the MoReTec-1 facility is designed to produce 50,000 metric tons of feedstock annually for use in existing LYB production units, enabling the production of recycled polymers. Source One Plastics, an LYB joint venture located in Eicklingen, Germany, processes mixed plastic waste into feedstock suitable for chemical recycling, supporting future supply to MoReTec-1. LYB currently sources recycled feedstock for CirculenRevive polymer production from third-party pyrolysis oil producers. Collaborating across the packaging value chain. Solutions like the Marabou chocolate bar packaging depend on collaboration across the value chain to help advance a more circular economy for plastics. LYB supplies the circular polymers, Taghleef Industries develops the base film and Amcor converts the material into the final flexible packaging solution for Mondelez. "Looking ahead, our ambition is to increase the use of recycled plastic in our packaging materials, and we're proud to collaborate with multiple value chain players, including LYB and other industry leaders, on this journey," said Packaging Sustainability Manager at Mondelez International, Richard Akkermans. "For consumers, the message is simple: plastic packaging can be recycled and allocated back into new food packaging. This initiative shows what becomes possible when brand owners, recyclers, packaging material producers and converters work together to turn circular ambition into commercial reality." Meeting brand-owner demand for circular packaging solutions. The collaboration reflects growing demand from brand owners for high-performance circular polymers that can support recycled-content goals while delivering the quality required for flexible food packaging. The new packaging supports progress toward European recycling ambitions and readiness for anticipated recycled-content requirements under the European Union Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Chemical recycling can help address flexible packaging waste, which has historically proven challenging to recycle into materials suitable for food packaging. How CirculenRevive supports solutions. CirculenRevive polymers are created by converting hard-to-recycle mixed plastic waste, including flexible packaging, into feedstock for polymer production through a chemical recycling process. LYB uses these feedstocks in existing production processes, displacing fossil-based feedstocks, and attributes them to end products through an ISCC PLUS-certified mass balance approach. The resulting polymers offer a drop-in, virgin-quality solution that allows brand owners to incorporate recycled content while maintaining performance and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Mondelēz unveils expanded Cadbury Christmas range with Biscoff launches and Smash Baubles. The new Cadbury Dairy Milk Biscoff Filled Centres combine Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate with crunchy Biscoff spread Mondelēz International has unveiled its Christmas 2026 confectionery range, introducing a host of new Cadbury products alongside returning festive favourites as it looks to help convenience retailers maximise seasonal sales. Leading the new launches are two additions to the growing Cadbury Dairy Milk and Lotus Biscoff partnership. The new Cadbury Dairy Milk Biscoff Filled Centres combine Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate with crunchy Biscoff spread and will be available as both a single bar and a three-pack multipack. The company is also launching a Cadbury Dairy Milk Biscoff Pouch, featuring a mix of Cadbury Dairy Milk Chunks and Cadbury Dairy Milk Biscoff chunks in a sharing format. Another new product for the festive season is the Cadbury Dairy Milk Smash Bauble, a chocolate bauble designed to be broken open to reveal either Cadbury Buttons or Freddo faces inside. Mondelēz said the launches come as Christmas remains the most important seasonal trading period for convenience retailers. According to its research, 72 per cent of convenience retailers consider seasonal sales to be very important to their business, with Christmas delivering the strongest performance. Deals and promotions, new product launches and in-store display materials were identified as the biggest sales drivers. Fast start. The supplier is encouraging retailers to make a "fast start" to the season from September, noting that almost a quarter of all Christmas confectionery sales in independent convenience and symbol stores are generated during the opening weeks of festive trading. To capitalise on early demand, the company is recommending retailers stock self-eat treats, sharing products and tablets that signal the arrival of Christmas to shoppers. Cadbury Dairy Milk Smash BaublePhoto: Handout Returning self-eat favourites include Cadbury Puds, while sharing options such as Cadbury Mini Puds, Cadbury Mini Snow Balls and Cadbury Dairy Milk Robins will again be available, supported by clip strips designed to drive impulse purchases. The company is also bringing back Cadbury Roses and Cadbury Heroes in their redesigned cartons and pouches for the key sharing occasion. Countdown to Christmas. For gifting, the range includes the Cadbury Dairy Milk 345g bar, alongside gift blocks such as Cadbury Dairy Milk Biscoff, Cadbury Dairy Milk Winter Wonderland, Cadbury Dairy Milk Winter Mint Crisp and Cadbury Mini Snow Balls. In biscuits, seasonal favourites OREO Gingerbread, OREO Enrobed White, Cadbury Snowy Fingers and Cadbury Festive Animals will all return for Christmas 2026. The advent calendar line-up also returns, led by the Cadbury Dairy Milk 90g Advent Calendar, which Mondelēz said remains the category's top-selling product in independent retailers and now features a tray made from 35 per cent recycled plastic. The Cadbury Dairy Milk Biscoff Advent Calendar, launched last year, is also returning after proving a successful addition to the range. Gifting finish. For the key December gifting period, Mondelēz is highlighting products including the Cadbury Medium Selection Box, Cadbury Milk Tray and the returning Cadbury Dairy Milk Coins, which the company said was the top-selling gifting novelty SKU across the total market in 2025 after growing 34 per cent year on year. The company is also reviving its Cadbury Secret Santa Postal Service, allowing consumers to anonymously send a free Cadbury chocolate bar to someone special in the run-up to Christmas. Retailers will once again have the opportunity to host their own in-store Secret Santa Postal Service through a competition on SnackDisplay.co.uk. Three winning stores will receive a promotional package including 150 Cadbury Dairy Milk tablets, envelopes, postage and point-of-sale materials. Entries will open on 1 September and close on 18 October. Cadbury Dairy Milk Biscoff PouchPhoto: Handout Gabriella Sargeant, junior brand manager for Christmas at Mondelēz International, said the supplier was expanding its festive range to create more excitement and incremental sales opportunities. "We believe that it's not Christmas without Cadbury and this year we are giving retailers even more opportunities to drive incremental sales this winter, with innovations driving excitement," she said. She added that the expanded Biscoff range and the introduction of the Smash Baubles would give shoppers more choice across self-eat, sharing and gifting occasions throughout the festive season. "Our range of seasonal products allow our shopper to choose the right festive snack or gift for their occasion. Whether that's a quick bite while relaxing in front of the TV with our Cadbury Dairy Milk Mini Puds or providing an array of snacks for the whole family with a Cadbury Dairy Milk Mixed Chunks sharing tin, we have something for everyone," Sargeant said.

Half-year Mondelez results show encouraging signs, despite trading tests. Posted 7 August, 2026 The Mondelez stand at this year's Sweets & Snacks Expo in Las Vegas. Pic: Neill Barston Mondelez International has posted half-year results that have shown revenues of $19.4 billion, up 6.2% year-on-year, revealing a stabilising of its performance amid a backdrop of market headwinds, reports Neill Barston. The Oreo and Milka bar manufacturer has, like much of the industry faced ongoing tests including the introduction of US import tariffs, and increases in operating costs as well as ingredients rises that have seen the business resort to instances of 'shrinkflation' in product development, along with other major manufacturers in a bid to mitigate increased business expenses. This was most readily seen when the company lost a court case in March over its Milka brand, where it was found that it did not sufficiently display changes to the size of bars on product packaging when reducing their size. However, despite such setbacks, the business has delivered consistent success with its Oreo brand, as well as additional launches across its portfolio that were released at this year's Sweets & Snacks Expo. The company's half year results produced encouraging figures for Latin America, where sales rose 15%, with $1.37 billion sales in the region, with an 8% rise in Asia to $1.9bn, with North American sales up 3% to $2.6bn, while Europe suffered a 1% downturn to 3.3bn - which still remains its highest performing global territory. "Its second quarter results were marked by robust top-line expansion, coupled with volume growth and share improvement, along with improved profitability. Confectionery Production delivered continued strength across its Emerging Markets, as well as strong growth and elevated execution in its North America business. "In Europe, share dynamics are showing early positive trends, and we believe the business is well-positioned to build on that progress," said Dirk Van de Put, Chair and Chief Executive Officer. "We are encouraged by the momentum in our business, and we remain focused on executional excellence coupled with reinvesting behind our brands to enable sustained performance for years to come."