Mondelēz International released its 2025 sustainability progress report, Snacking Made Right, detailing achievements across sustainable ingredient sourcing, climate action, and packaging innovation programs. The company achieved approximately 100% cocoa volume sourcing through its Cocoa Life program, reduced end-to-end carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 21% versus 2018, and exceeded water reduction targets at priority manufacturing sites.
The report, released April 15, highlights the snack food company’s progress toward 2025 and 2030 sustainability commitments, including emissions reductions validated by the Science Based Targets initiative and circular economy approaches to packaging materials.
“Focus, innovation and impact at scale have always been at the heart of our sustainability work,” said Christine Montenegro McGrath, senior vice president and chief impact and sustainability officer at Mondelēz International.
Cocoa Life program achieves full coverage
Mondelēz International’s Cocoa Life sustainable cocoa sourcing program now covers approximately 100% of cocoa volume sourced for the company’s chocolate business, meeting a 2025 target. The program works alongside more than 257,000 registered Cocoa Life farmers to build profitable businesses and resilient communities while protecting and restoring forests.
The Cocoa Life initiative, launched in 2012, focuses on securing sustainable cocoa supply while addressing systemic human rights challenges including child labor risk prevention and remediation. The program increased farmer participation by approximately 70% since 2018, expanding from approximately 243,000 farmers in 2023 to over 257,000 in 2025.
Program focus areas include enhancing child protection systems, enabling access to quality education in Cocoa Life communities, and working collaboratively to help farmers increase productivity and income. Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation Systems coverage in Cocoa Life communities in West Africa reached approximately 89% in 2024, progressing toward a 100% coverage target.
By end of 2023, Mondelēz distributed nearly 8.6 million shade trees to help safeguard cocoa, promote biodiversity, and support farmers’ income diversification. The agroforestry approach integrates cocoa production with forest conservation and restoration objectives.
Greenhouse gas emissions reduction progress
Mondelēz International reduced end-to-end carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by approximately 21% across its value chain compared to the 2018 baseline, reaching approximately 60% progress toward its 2030 target of 35% reduction. The company’s emissions reduction targets were validated by the Science Based Targets initiative, which also includes a net-zero commitment by 2050.
The emissions reductions reflect increased energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption across operations. Approximately 70% of electricity used in manufacturing sites in 2025 was renewable energy, compared to 54% reported in 2024. The 16-percentage-point increase in renewable electricity adoption within one year demonstrates accelerated clean energy procurement.
End-to-end emissions accounting encompasses Scope 1 direct emissions from company-owned sources, Scope 2 indirect emissions from purchased energy, and Scope 3 value chain emissions including agricultural production, ingredient processing, packaging manufacturing, distribution, and product end-of-life. For food companies, Scope 3 agricultural emissions typically represent the largest share of total emissions, making sustainable sourcing programs critical to meaningful climate progress.
Water reduction exceeds target
The company exceeded its target of 10% reduction in absolute water usage at priority sites by 2025, realizing approximately 18% reduction versus the 2018 baseline. Priority sites represent manufacturing facilities located in water-stressed regions where water availability faces constraints from climate, population, or competing demands.
Absolute water reduction targets require actual decreases in total water consumption rather than intensity-based metrics that normalize for production volume. Achieving absolute reductions while maintaining or increasing production requires process efficiency improvements, water recycling and reuse systems, and operational changes reducing water requirements.
Water usage reduction strategies in food manufacturing include closed-loop cooling systems, condensate recovery, cleaning process optimization, equipment modifications, and employee engagement programs identifying conservation opportunities. The 18% reduction surpassing the 10% target indicates substantial operational improvements across priority manufacturing locations.
Packaging circularity and recycled content
Approximately 96% of Mondelēz International’s packaging was designed to be recyclable in 2025, progressing toward a target of 98% or more by 2025. The company introduced recycled-content packaging for Cadbury products in Australia as part of its commitment to a more circular economy for plastic, contributing toward a 2030 recycled plastic content target.
The company reached approximately 75% progress toward its 2030 recycled plastic content goal. Recyclable packaging design requires material selection compatible with existing collection and processing infrastructure, format optimization enabling efficient sorting and recycling, and elimination of components compromising recyclability such as certain adhesives, labels, or multi-material structures.
Recycled content targets focus on incorporating post-consumer recycled materials into new packaging, creating demand for recycled materials and supporting circular material flows. The dual approach addressing both recyclability design and recycled content incorporation addresses packaging sustainability from end-of-life recovery and feedstock sourcing perspectives.
Food waste and palm oil sourcing
Mondelēz International achieved approximately 12% reduction in food waste from manufacturing operations versus 2018, progressing toward a 15% reduction target by 2025. Food waste reduction in manufacturing involves process optimization, improved forecasting, equipment calibration, quality management system refinement, and redistribution of surplus edible food to charitable organizations.
The company maintained 100% Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil certification for palm oil volume sourcing. RSPO certification provides third-party verification that palm oil production meets environmental and social sustainability standards addressing deforestation, biodiversity conservation, greenhouse gas emissions, and labor rights.
Approximately 96% of manufacturing sites completed Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit within the past three years in 2024, progressing toward 100% coverage. SMETA audits assess labor standards, health and safety, environment, and business ethics across manufacturing operations.
Impact investing collaboration
Mondelēz International joined The 100+ Accelerator, an initiative providing access to eco-entrepreneurs to further scale systemic environmental solutions. The impact investing platform connects corporations with early-stage companies developing innovations addressing sustainability challenges across food systems, packaging, and climate.
Corporate participation in impact investing accelerators provides entrepreneurs with capital, technical expertise, pilot project opportunities, and potential pathways to commercial partnerships. For corporations, the collaboration offers access to emerging technologies and business models supporting sustainability objectives while diversifying innovation pipelines.
“Our path forward is grounded in long-term, sustainable business growth – shaping, creating, and accelerating the future of snacking for generations of consumers to come,” said Dirk Van de Put, Mondelēz International chairman and CEO.
Mondelēz International’s portfolio includes Cadbury, Milka, Toblerone, Oreo, Ritz, belVita, and Halls brands across chocolate, biscuits, and confectionery categories. The company operates in approximately 150 countries worldwide.
