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.

Tata Power, one of India’s largest vertically integrated power companies, has launched the Energy Insights & Innovation Lab (EIIL). This strategic research initiative is designed to harness cutting-edge research, data and experimentation to support India’s clean energy transition.

EIIL is a collaboration with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and the International Growth Centre (IGC), a global research centre based at LSE. The Lab aims to address pressing challenges in India’s power sector. These range from managing peak electricity demand to enabling deeper renewable energy integration in a way that is affordable and aligned with India’s net-zero goals.

The Lab was inaugurated by Dr Praveer Sinha, CEO & MD, Tata Power; Prof. Robin Burgess , Professor of Economics and Director of IGC and EEE Research Program, LSE; Dr. Jonathan Leape, Executive Director, IGC in the august presence of HM Harjinder Kang, Trade Commissioner for South Asia and British Deputy High Commissioner for Western India. Also, present at the ceremony, Dr. Chetan Ghate, Professor, ISI and IGC ISGH.

During a inaugural ceremony Tata Power, LSE and IGC have signed an MoU to co-develop scalable solutions for the power sector through evidence-based approaches and global best practices.

System-level modelling

Innovation Lab will leverage consumer behavioural science, data analytics, and energy systems modelling to test practical solutions at scale. It will focus on applied pilots that use smart meter and IoT data to improve demand-side management and grid resilience.

The initiative will explore how advanced analytics, and behavioural insights can help shift or smooth peak electricity demand in urban households, reducing stress on local networks while maintaining consumer comfort.