Cadbury is using a starch-based, biodegradable material in trays for one of its sampler-style candy selections. Some of the Cadbury Milk Tray candies distributed in Europe use the material, from Plantic Technologies, for interior thermoformed trays that hold individual candy pieces.

The tray material is biodegradable, home compostable and water soluble. Unlike other alternative resins, the material is unrefined and composed of glucose molecules taken from naturally occurring carbohydrates stored in many plants.

The use of the biodegradable tray jibes with Cadbury’s efforts to associate its iconic brand with social responsibility, manifested in its certification as a “fair trade” product in the UK, Ireland and other countries.