Chocolate Plastic Problem: Why Brands Need to Do Better

Despite growing consumer demand for sustainable packaging, major chocolate companies continue to rely on plastic wrappers that contribute to marine plastic pollution. To gain an understanding of the problem let’s look at the three top major chocolate brands found in Seabin catches for 2024:

1. Cadbury (Mondelez Australia) 
2. Nestlé 
3. Mars

We still found over 31,000 soft food wrappers in Sydney Harbour Seabin catches in 2024 despite strong packaging goals! So why is this still an issue and what are the Australian packaging guidelines? Let’s have a look!

(These results were taken from Sydney Harbour Seabin’s and analysed in the Ocean Health Lab (OHL) and extrapolated)

Australian Packaging Guidelines 

Australia has introduced packaging regulations designed to curb plastic waste, yet many chocolate brands continue to lag behind, as reflected in the data above. There are three key areas to look at, let’s dive in. 

2025 National Packaging Targets (Led by APCO) 

 These voluntary targets aim to make packaging more sustainable, requiring: 

• 100% recyclable, compostable, or reusable packaging by 2025 

• 70% plastic packaging to be recycled or composted 

• 50% average recycled content across all packaging 

• Phase-out of problematic single-use plastic packaging 

Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020 

While this act governs packaging waste, chocolate wrappers are not currently included in strict regulations. Advocacy efforts can push for: 

• Inclusion of chocolate wrappers in upcoming regulatory updates 

• Mandatory phase-out of plastic-wrapped chocolates in favour of compostable or paper-based packaging 

For more information on the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020, read the summary in our blog post: A summary of the report: Synthetic Turf in Public Spaces – Chemical Composition of Materials.

National Plastics Plan (2021) 

This policy sets specific goals to phase out problematic plastics by 2025. Chocolate brands failing to adopt recyclable or compostable packaging contradict these national commitments and should be held accountable. 

Ok so it looks like there are some Australian packaging guidelines, but most are either voluntary or don’t include chocolate bars… Let’s look as choices we can make when choose a chocolate bar.

What to Look for When Choosing Chocolate Packaging

Symbols & Certifications to Look For

Certified Organic

Grown and processed following strict guidelines addressing soil health, biodiversity, animal welfare, pest and weed management, and minimal use of additives.

FairTrade

Ensures farmers and workers receive fair wages, operate under safe working conditions, and supports ethical supply chains.

Rainforest Alliance

Promotes sustainable farming practices while supporting communities and conserving biodiversity.

Australian Made

Indicates that products are locally made, supporting Australian jobs and reducing transport-related carbon emissions.

Choosing Sustainable Packaging

The packaging you choose has a direct impact on the environment. Here’s a simple ranking of common packaging types used in Australia:

Paper
Best option. High recyclability, biodegradable, and compostable.

Aluminium
Infinitely recyclable, but small pieces (like foil) may be lost during sorting.

Hard Plastic
Some recyclability, but often downcycled into lower-quality products.

Soft Plastic
Difficult to recycle, frequently ends up in the environment, contributing to marine plastic pollution.

How You Can Help

Ok so as we saw the Australian packaging guidelines do not seem to include chocolate bars specifically but there are some ways we can make our chocolate bar choice more environmentally friendly. If you are passionate about chocolate you can use our Letters template to tell retailers and brands what you think! 

Key things to remember:

• Look for chocolates with paper, cardboard, or foil packaging (without plastic).
• Choose products with trusted certifications.
• Advocate for chocolate wrappers to be included in Australia’s packaging regulations.
• Support policies that phase out single-use plastics.
• Use your purchasing power — every chocolate bar counts!

Interested in learning more about ocean health? Explore our courses HERE.  

Want to learn more about Seabin Foundation? Read our Impact Report HERE. 

How to get involved

There are many ways we can all contribute to the global effort for cleaner oceans! Contact us here to find out how you can get involved on our mission for cleaner oceans.

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