Responsible packaging plays a large part in Cadbury Schweppes’ sustainable-driven innovation. By partnering with suppliers to achieve this goal, the company aims to achieve 100% recoverable or biodegradable packaging by 2010.

In a demonstration of this commitment, Cadbury Schweppes is proud to be associated with Plantic Technologies Limited – a company that has introduced to the market Plantic™, a biodegradable product used for commercial packaging.

Cadbury Schweppes has worked with Plantic since 2002. Plantic developed the biodegradable thermoformable material and then worked with Cadbury Schweppes to design and trial the material for use in packaging applications. The two companies are continuing to work closely together to find ways for advancing packaging technologies.

From corn starch to packaging

Cadbury Schweppes uses an eco-friendly plastic made from a biodegradable, non-toxic material derived from corn starch to replace the conventional plastic tray in its Cadbury® Dairy Milk™ Milk Tray™ and Eden boxed chocolates. Plantic™ which decomposes rapidly and dissolves instantly upon contact with water is also used by Cadbury Schweppes as secondary packaging material for its Cadbury® Fun Filled Freddo®.

The main benefits of the Plantic™ material to the environment are that it is made from a sustainable non-toxic resource (rather than derived from petroleum), and it decomposes quickly in water without polluting local groundwater systems.

Plantic materials are the result of seven years research at the Cooperative Research Centre for International Food Manufacture and Packaging Science, with whom Cadbury Schweppes has worked closely for many years.

A world first

Cadbury Schweppes is the first company in the world to apply the Plantic™material in this type of commercial application. Mark Smith, Managing Director Cadbury Schweppes Australia and New Zealand said: “Using this technology gives us the opportunity to reduce the environmental impact of our packaging without compromising the quality of our product or presentation.

“We want to ensure our products continue to appeal to consumers while steadily improving our ability to do the right thing environmentally.

”Cadbury Schweppes’ aim is to reduce the environmental impact of its packaging while still meeting customer requirements on packaging, design and protecting and maintaining product integrity. Cadbury Schweppes is a signatory to the National Packaging Covenant and is committed to reducing the amount of packaging in proportion to product as well as using sustainable packaging.

Plantic™is just one working example of the company’s commitment to achieving this.

PIQET

Cadbury Schweppes is also working in conjunction with the Centre for Design at RMIT University, Sustainable Packaging Alliance partner Birubi Innovation and other industry partners in undertaking an environmental assessment of selected packaging systems.

The group has developed a program called Packaging Impact Quick Evaluation Tool (PIQET) that will enable the company to assess the packaging options for particular needs, to ensure the selection of the most environmentally sustainable packaging alternative.

The research will assist Cadbury Schweppes in itsNational Packaging Covenant commitments and will provideguidance in packaging material selection and the design andre-design of packaging systems.

Contact: Robyn Newman
Telephone: +61 3 9520 7444
Website: www.cadburyschweppes.com

Smart water usage

Water consumption is a major concern for the whole community and Cadbury Schweppes is committed to responsible water management.

In conjunction with the Victorian and New South Wales State Governments, Cadbury Schweppes has developed a way to reduce the amount of water used in its beverage production.

When cans and bottles are packaged, they are moved on a series of conveyor belts which traditionally use a ‘wet’ lubrication system, using kilolitres of water and wastewater each year.

Through the introduction of innovative technology, the old conveyor belts at the Cadbury Schweppes Tullamarine (Victoria) and Huntingwood (New South Wales) beverage sites have been replaced with a ‘dry’ lubrication system that uses minimal water and saves millions of litres of water and wastewater a year.

This industry-first initiative is currently being rolled out across other Cadbury Schweppes sites and is being used as a benchmark by other manufacturers.

Cadbury Schweppes CSR Report 2006: http://www.cadburyschweppes.com/EN/EnvironmentSociety/Overview/reports.htm

Plantic: http://www.plantic.com.au/