LyondellBasell and Mondelez International have developed flexible packaging for Marabou chocolate bars using plastic sourced from recycled materials [1].
This initiative marks a shift toward circular packaging in the food industry, where flexible plastics are traditionally difficult to recycle. By integrating recycled content into consumer-facing wrappers, the companies aim to lower the carbon footprint of snack packaging and reduce the volume of virgin plastic entering the waste stream [1, 2].
The project is a multi-party collaboration involving LyondellBasell, Mondelez International, Amcor, and Taghleef Industries [3]. The effort was announced Tuesday in Rotterdam, Netherlands [1, 2].
To achieve the recycled content goals, the companies utilized LYB CirculenRevive polymers. These polymers feature 100% attributed recycled content [4] through an ISCC PLUS-certified mass balance approach. This specific process allows the companies to track recycled material through complex supply chains where different plastic streams are mixed.
According to LyondellBasell, this technology enables Mondelez to offer packaging sourced from 75% recycled content for the chocolate bars [4].
"Global chemical leader LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) today announced an innovative flexible packaging solution for Marabou chocolate bars, developed in collaboration with Mondelez International, Amcor, Taghleef Industries and other key industry players," LyondellBasell said [3].
The partnership focuses on maintaining the protective qualities of the wrapper, such as moisture and oxygen barriers, while transitioning away from entirely new plastic. The use of mass balance certification ensures that the recycled claims are verified by third-party standards [4].
“Mondelez is now able to offer packaging sourced from 75% recycled content”
The use of a mass balance approach and ISCC PLUS certification indicates that the industry is moving toward 'attributed' recycling rather than purely mechanical recycling for flexible films. Because flexible packaging is often composed of multiple material layers, achieving high recycled content requires chemical recycling or complex tracking systems to ensure the plastic is diverted from landfills without compromising food safety.
