Amid a broader industry pullback from ambitious climate targets, Mondelēz International is doubling down on sustainability through new investments in compostable packaging and regenerative agriculture. The Oreo and BelVita biscuit maker announced funding for startups working at the intersection of climate, community, and circular economy via its Sustainable Futures Impact Investment platform.
The multinational snacking giant is supporting Pack2Earth, which develops bio-based alternatives to plastic packaging; eAgronom, an ag-tech platform helping farmers transition to regenerative practices; and Ziro, a fintech firm offering inventory financing to small retailers.
This comes at a time when other major food players are scaling back sustainability efforts due to declining sales and shifting regulatory landscapes. General Mills disbanded its venture arm earlier this year, and PepsiCo recently revised its climate goals to focus on more profit-aligned initiatives.
Mondelēz itself has also adjusted its sustainability roadmap, including changes to its SnackFutures venture model and an exit from the U.S. Plastics Pact—a collaborative initiative aimed at advancing sustainable packaging. Still, the company reported a 12% emissions reduction in 2024 compared to 2018 and continued progress in sourcing and manufacturing sustainability.
However, Mondelēz’s latest sustainability report also flagged ongoing challenges, particularly in cutting virgin plastic use. “While we believe we have a strong pipeline of projects for 2025, we anticipate facing challenges in sourcing new materials and overcoming technical challenges to qualify and implement new solutions,” the company stated.
The renewed investments suggest that while some food majors are retreating, Mondelēz sees climate-smart innovation as central to its long-term growth strategy.