Braine-l’Alleud, 7 May 2026

• Mini Babybel® sold in Belgium will now come in a recyclable paper wrapper while maintaining the quality of the product.
• This new wrapper will reduce the amount of non-recyclable packaging per six-pack by approximately 60%.
• In Belgium, more than one Mini Babybel® is sold every second, making it a well-balanced snack.

Bel is continuing its packaging transformation in Belgium with the gradual introduction of a recyclable paper wrapper for Mini Babybel®. This move aims to reduce the use of non-recyclable packaging per portion, while upholding the product’s quality, preservation, and safety requirements.

Less packaging, just as delicious

By 2027, all Babybel® products, manufactured across five industrial sites and distributed in 50 countries, will be available in paper-based wrappers made from sustainably sourced materials. The commercial launch of paper-wrapped Babybel® began in the United Kingdom. The US, Canadian, and Northern European markets will follow later this year, before a global rollout to all 50 countries from 2027.

Now available in Belgium, this change will reduce by approximately 60 % the share of non-recyclable packaging (per six-pack). When measured against the volumes of Babybel® consumed each year, the expected impact is significant, representing an estimated saving of 850 tonnes of packaging materials.

Mini Babybel®, rich in calcium and protein, continues to be made to the same recipe, with just 4 ingredients, with milk accounting for 98% of the content, along with lactic acid bacteria, salt, and vegetable rennet, with no additives or preservatives.

This change is part of the broader ambition of the Bel Group, which aims to make 100% packaging ready for recycling or compostable at home by 2030. The Group also intends to go further by eliminating packaging wherever possible and minimizing its environmental impact. In 2025, 85% of Bel’s packaging was already recyclable and/or biodegradable, excluding wax.

Innovating while preserving what matters

For more than 100 years, the individual portion format has been at the heart of Bel’s expertise. It embodies the Group’s DNA through iconic brands such as La Vache qui rit®, Kiri®, and Babybel®, recognized for their convenience, accessibility, balanced nutritional content, and long shelf life. Mini Babybel® is today its leading ambassador, with more than 2 billion portions consumed every year around the world. At this scale, every change to packaging has a tangible and significant environmental impact.

Delphine Chatelin, Head of RID at the Bel Group, highlights: « Transitioning Babybel®’s packaging to a paper-based solution is a genuine technical and industrial challenge. It is not simply a matter of swapping one material for another: it requires a complete rethink of the protective system to ensure product quality and safety at every stage, from manufacturing right through to the moment of enjoyment. Our goal is to offer consumers the same iconic experience and pleasure, while meeting their expectations around sustainability and convenience, through packaging that respects the environment and is perfectly suited to the life of the product.»

The pleasure of snacking, without compromise

Mini Babybel® remains one of the most popular snacking options in Belgium, with cheese recommended by nutritionists as a healthy snack. Every year, more than 800 tonnes of Mini Babybel® are sold in Belgium, equivalent to more than one Mini Babybel® sold every second, making Mini Babybel® a staple in Belgian fridges.

Made from milk, lactic acid bacteria, salt, and vegetable rennet, Mini Babybel® offers a simple, authentic recipe suited to a balanced everyday diet. A go-to among portioned cheeses, it delivers the convenience and enjoyment that consumers look for during their snack breaks.

Jean-David Thumerlaire, CEO of Bel Benelux: «At Bel, we believe that snacking can play a genuinely positive role in people's diets, combining convenience, pleasure, and a commitment to everyone's wellbeing. Mini Babybel® perfectly embodies this vision, offering an experience that is fun, indulgent, simple, and suited to all ages, while meeting the demand for naturalness and quality. Through our commitment to developing healthier snacking options, we are dedicated to supporting Belgian families in their daily lives with products designed for today and built for tomorrow. This ambition drives each of our brands and pushes us to innovate in the service of a more responsible and accessible diet. »

About the Bel Group

The Bel Group is a major player in the healthy cheese, fruit and plant-based snacking segment. The Bel Group is a major player in the segment of healthy dairy, fruit and plant-based snacks. Its portfolio of differentiated and internationally recognized brands includes The Laughing® Cow, Kiri®, Babybel®, Boursin®, Pom'Potes® and GoGo squeeZ®, as well as some twenty local brands. Together, these brands enabled the Group to achieve sales of €3.7 billion in 2024. Around 11,000 employees in 60 subsidiaries around the world contribute to the Group's mission: to offer healthier and more responsible food to all. Bel products are manufactured at 30 production sites and distributed in more than 120 countries.

www.groupe-bel.com

Press Contacts

Brum Smith

Gaëlle Appelmans, Senior Communication Consultant – +32 483 67 30 32 – [email protected]

BEL

Aricia Nisol, CSR & Corp Coms Manager – 0497 49 13 00– [email protected]