We’re only halfway through January, but already several big brands have announced major changes for 2026.
Walkers gave its crisps logo a huge revamp, Tesco has revived its iconic 90s Value stripes, and several supermarkets, including M&S and Morrisons, launched new food ranges for those taking weight loss medication.
And there are more changes still to come, as Babybel has confirmed that a big change is being made to its packaging in a ‘milestone’ move.
For years, Babybel cheeses have been wrapped in red wax and then covered in a cellophane wrapper, which is made from cellulose found in wood – but this won’t be the case for much longer.
As of this year, a new paper wrapper is going to be rolled out in supermarkets across the UK, made from FSC-certified, biosourced, renewable materials.
While cellulose wrappers were certified home-compostable, the new paper ones are fully recyclable.
The change can already be seen in Tesco, as the retailer partnered with Bel UK to launch the new recyclable wrappers in December 2025.
By mid-2026, shoppers can expect to see these in other stores nationwide, too.
And the UK isn’t the only place you’ll see this change, as it’s also being rolled out across Europe.
What kind of cheese is a Babybel made of?
According to the Babybel website, the OG version is an ‘edam style cheese’ that’s made from pasteurised milk.
It’s a semi-hard cheese that features four ingredients – pasteurised milk, vegetarian rennet, lactic ferments, and salt.
The company adds: ‘It’s made the traditional way.
‘During cheese-making, we use lactic ferments to give the cheese its taste and flavour, and a little salt to enhance the flavour and keep it safe.’
For those who fancy something a little different, there are several Babybel variations, including a plant-based version, Babybel Hellfire, a protein Babybel, as well as White Cheddar and Emmental flavours.
Justine de Monès, marketing manager at Bel UK, said: ‘Launching paper wrappers with Tesco is an important milestone in our commitment to making all Babybel packaging recyclable.
‘Moving to recyclable paper packaging is a decisive milestone in Babybel’s sustainable transformation.’
She added: ‘It also reflects the wider work across the Bel portfolio to actively improve packaging.’
Paper wrappers aren’t the only change Babybel fans should look out for – according to the Babybel UK website, the red wax is getting a makeover soon, too.
A post on the site reads: ‘Every day we’re striving to be more and more sustainable!
‘We’re looking beyond the net for fully-recyclable packaging solutions and reimagining our red wax by finding ways to use materials that are better for the environment, like plant-based wax. Stay tuned!’
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