Some familiar biscuit packets are losing their plastic trays as part of a packaging overhaul expected to remove around 2,200 tonnes of virgin plastic a year across Europe.

Mondelēz International, the company behind Cadbury, Oreo and several other major snack brands, has replaced rigid PET plastic trays with paper alternatives across more than 115 cookie and biscuit products sold in over 25 European markets.

For UK shoppers, the change includes Cadbury Crunchy Melts, Cadbury Chocolate Chip Cookies and LU Petit Cookies. The trays are made from FSC-certified paper, although the products will still retain other packaging, including their outer wrappers.

The company estimates the switch will cut the amount of virgin plastic used in the affected packaging by around 80% compared with the previous combination of plastic trays and outer wrapping. That calculation is based on projected production volumes for the 2026 financial year.

More than 115 products are getting new trays

The change stretches well beyond the UK. Products sold under LU, Milka, Granola, Cadbury, Marabou, Chips Ahoy!, Lacta and Freia are included, covering markets such as France, Germany, Spain, Poland and Ireland as well as the Nordic countries.

Together, the affected lines account for roughly 28,000 tonnes of biscuits and cookies produced annually, according to Mondelēz.

This isn’t the company’s first attempt to reduce the amount of virgin plastic in its packaging. Some trays used for brands including Oreo, Cadbury, Milka and Chips Ahoy! already contain around 80% recycled PET, while Cadbury trialled paper Heroes tubs in the UK in 2025.

Food companies face growing pressure over plastic use

The move comes as manufacturers face both consumer and regulatory pressure to reduce their reliance on new plastic.

In the UK, the Plastic Packaging Tax applies to plastic packaging containing less than 30% recycled plastic. Since April 2026, the charge has been £228.82 per tonne, giving manufacturers a direct financial incentive to increase recycled content or move away from plastic altogether.

Recent HMRC figures show the scale of the issue. Of the plastic packaging manufactured or imported into the UK in 2025/26, 37% was declared taxable, while 51% met the threshold of containing at least 30% recycled material. The tax raised £250 million during the financial year.

The European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) 2026 opens in Brussels this morning, marking the start of the event’s landmark 20th edition. Policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, innovators and civil society groups are converging on the Belgian capital for three days of debate, with a programme built around the theme “A clean, secure and competitive Energy Union”. More than 50 policy sessions, an Energy Fair and the annual EUSEW Awards are among the highlights of this year’s event, which will run until 11 June.

Milestone 20th Edition Focused on Europe’s Energy Future

EUSEW 2026 marks two decades of Europe’s flagship clean‑energy event. Since its inception, the week has grown into the continent’s largest annual gathering dedicated to renewables and energy efficiency. This year’s edition is hybrid, taking place both in Brussels and online, with sessions hosted at the European Commission’s Charlemagne building and the NH Brussels EU Berlaymont hotel.

The opening day features a panel bringing together former European Commissioners Andris Piebalgs, Günther Oettinger, Miguel Arias Cañete and Kadri Simson, alongside the current Commissioner for Energy, Dan Jørgensen. And over the coming days, themes such as energy efficiency, affordability and decarbonisation are set to ignite discussions.

Key Speakers and Programme Highlights

2026’s programme brings together a wide range of speakers shaping Europe’s clean‑energy transition. Alongside the Commissioners’ panel and keynote contributions from senior EU policymakers and leading industry voices, the agenda also features specialised debates. One of the 20 panels scheduled for the second day will examine how AI‑powered grids can secure Europe’s energy future. The momentum continues on Thursday, 11 June, when another full day of 20 panels will tackle some of the week’s most technical questions, including a session on how fair electricity taxation can support SMEs as they navigate the energy transition.

The EUSEW Awards Ceremony takes place on 9 June at 10:00 CET, celebrating outstanding achievements in three categories: Local Energy Action, Women in Energy and SMEs Driving Energy Efficiency. These awards recognise individuals and organisations driving meaningful progress in energy efficiency and renewable technologies.

A Europe‑Wide Celebration of Clean Energy

Although the main conference runs from 9 to 11 June, EUSEW extends far beyond Brussels. Sustainable Energy Days, held between March and June, bring the clean‑energy conversation to communities across Europe and beyond. These locally organised events allow citizens, businesses and public bodies to engage directly with the energy transition, making EUSEW a truly continent‑wide initiative.

The 2026 edition also marks the start of the mandate for the new cohort of 30 Young Energy Ambassadors, selected from across Europe to represent the next generation of clean‑energy leaders. Their involvement underscores the EU’s commitment to ensuring that young professionals play an active role in shaping the future of the energy transition.

Scandinavian Airlines has been recognized in the category “Most Impactful Solution – Ground Operations” at The Aviation Challenge Awards. 

The Aviation Challenge is a global collaboration initiative presented by SkyTeam, bringing airlines together to accelerate progress in one of the most complex industries to transform. Through shared learning, data exchange and real‑world testing, participating airlines develop solutions that are already in use and designed to scale across operations. 

“SkyTeam has become a driving force in pushing sustainability forward across the industry, and this year’s results underline what is possible when airlines work together,” says Anko van der Werff, President and CEO, SAS. “It is inspiring to see airlines from around the world turn shared ambition into practical solutions that scale.” 

The Aviation Challenge Awards were presented in Copenhagen on 21 January, bringing together airline leaders and operational experts from across the global aviation community.  

New long‑haul routes to Dubai and Thailand

Scandinavian Airlines will be expanding its intercontinental offering for Winter 2026/27 with three new longhaul routes from Copenhagen to Dubai, Phuket, and Krabi.

The return to Dubai is SAS’ first operation to the UAE since 2011.

Thailand also receives a major boost, with more than 75 percent additional capacity compared with last winter. With the introduction of Phuket and Krabi, SAS becomes the only airline offering scheduled commercial nonstop services from Scandinavia to three destinations in Thailand: Bangkok, Phuket, and Krabi.

“Dubai represents an important market for SAS, and at the same time we are proud to introduce Phuket and Krabi to our longhaul network,” says Paul Verhagen, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at SAS. “Re-establishing our presence in Dubai allows us to offer our customers direct access to one of the world’s most exciting cities, while the addition of Phuket and Krabi provides nonstop connections to Thailand’s most sought-after holiday destinations. Together, these routes strengthen Copenhagen as a global hub for Scandinavia and Northern Europe and expand the choices available to our customers for both business and leisure travel.” 

The new routes have been scheduled to offer convenient timings to and from Dubai and maximize connecting opportunities from Europe to Phuket and Krabi.