Cheese multinational Bel Group is accelerating its packaging transformation with the global introduction of recyclable, responsibly sourced paper for its Mini Babybel brand—replacing the long-used cellophane wrap and marking a major step toward the company’s 2030 ambition for 100% recycling-ready packaging. The transition will be completed worldwide by 2027.
The switch follows several years of material science research and industrial testing to ensure the new paper wrap meets the strict functional requirements of a pressed cheese—resisting moisture, oxygen, transportation stress and temperature fluctuations—while maintaining Babybel’s familiar sensory profile. The protective red wax coating, a defining feature of the brand, remains unchanged.
Delphine Chatelin, Bel Group’s director of research, innovation and development, said: “It is not simply about replacing one material with another. It requires rethinking the entire protection system to ensure product quality and safety, from production to consumption. Our objective is to offer consumers the same iconic and enjoyable experience while meeting their expectations for sustainability and convenience, with packaging that is environmentally responsible and perfectly adapted to the product’s life cycle.”
Bel Group had earlier introduced a bio-based, home-compostable cellophane in 2020. The shift to recyclable paper represents the next stage in reducing plastic at source as part of the company’s broader sustainability strategy spanning ingredient sourcing, logistics and manufacturing. Kiri is progressing with its own paper-based prototypes, while The Laughing Cow and Materne compotes are trialling bulk dispensers under the DéfiVrac Coalition.
Industrial Conversion Across Four Countries
Babybel is produced at major sites in France, the US, Canada and Slovakia, requiring a coordinated global industrial transition. Converting these high-throughput operations to paper involved pilot material development, line redesign, equipment adaptation and extensive operator training.
“This is far more than a simple material swap. It requires rethinking the entire protection system to ensure quality and safety at every stage from production to consumption,” Chatelin added in a separate statement.
Bel noted that its production teams “are mobilizing to adapt their equipment, rethink their processes and train their teams, in order to integrate new environmentally friendly materials while guaranteeing the quality and food safety of our products.”
A dedicated paper-ready line in France enabled early testing, while operational scale-up is supported by a €60 million investment to expand capacity and underpin long-term Babybel growth.
Measured Environmental Benefits
According to the company, transitioning to paper will cut plastic use per Babybel net by 60% and avoid 2,550 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually—an impact Bel compares to the absorption capacity of approximately 100,000 trees. The company aims to convert all Mini Babybel products to paper by 2027.
Linda Neu, general manager of Babybel, said the brand’s priority is to safeguard the consumer experience: “Because moving forward means continuing to make people smile while doing better, every day.”
Babybel’s cheese recipe, wax coating and portion size remain unchanged.
Global Deployment Through 2027
Commercial rollout began in the United Kingdom and will extend to the US, Canada and Northern Europe beginning in 2026. By 2027, the transition is expected across all 50 markets where Babybel is sold.
Bel sees the programme as a model for high-volume brands aiming to reduce plastic while maintaining product integrity, emphasising the intertwined roles of material innovation, cross-functional development and manufacturing readiness.
