Sustainable Packaging
Our comprehensive approach to packaging seeks to meet extensive packaging regulations, aims to cut waste, conserve natural resources, ensure food safety and quality, and satisfy our consumers. Our team of experts collaborates with suppliers and external packaging specialists to design better packaging that incorporates more recycled and recyclable materials. We partner with a variety of leading organizations and coalitions to explore technical, end-of-life, and infrastructure solutions.
New Goal: Aim to reduce our use of virgin plastic globally by 20% by 2030 (versus 2021).
Aim to make 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging by 2025.
87%
Create a fully circular Heinz tomato ketchup bottle in Europe by 2022.
100%
Our comprehensive approach to packaging seeks to meet extensive packaging regulations, aims to cut waste, conserve natural resources, ensure food safety and quality, and satisfy our consumers. Our team of experts collaborates with suppliers and external packaging specialists to design better packaging that incorporates more recycled and recyclable materials. We furthermore partner with a variety of leading organizations and coalitions to explore technical, end-of-life, and infrastructure solutions.
At Kraft Heinz, we aim to make 100 percent of our packaging globally recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025. We have partnered with environmental consultancy group Lorax EPI to better understand how much of our packaging is recyclable, reusable, and compostable. The majority of our packaging is paper-based, glass, or metal materials that are recyclable. The other portion of our packaging is mostly made up of flexible plastic films or rigid plastic containers. Through 2022, 87 percent* of our global packaging portfolio was recyclable, reusable, or compostable.
While we are proud of our accomplishment, we are cognizant of the road ahead to convert the remaining part of our portfolio to be recyclable, reusable, and/or compostable. At this time, the majority of Kraft Heinz’s non-recyclable portfolio is made up of films and flexible materials, a critical material in food packaging for convenience, cost, and food safety. In the coming years, we are evaluating this part of the portfolio to ensure alignment with design for recycling guidelines, which will further push us towards our goal. We are also working closely with industry groups to collectively improve recycling infrastructure and explore alternatives.
We are also strengthening our packaging commitments by continuing to transition our portfolio towards both reducing our packaging and transitioning towards more sustainable packaging alternatives. We plan to roll out an ambitious virgin plastic reduction goal which will be available on our website in 2023.
In July 2023, we announced a new goal to reduce the use of virgin plastic in its global packaging portfolio by 20 percent by 2030 – a critical step in decreasing its use of fossil fuels and finding more sustainable product packaging options. Progress on this goal will be shared in future reporting.
* Based on weight of consumer and traded packaging materials. Includes materials that are recyclable (94.81 percent of total), widely recyclable – check locally (4.62 percent of total) and other – store drop off or TerraCycle programs (0.57 percent of total). 2021 calculation covers global packaging and select external manufacturing data. Data from our Assan acquisition in late 2021 was not included but will be in our next ESG report.
Designing Better Packaging
We consider the appearance, functionality, cost, and environmental impact of packaging design, focusing on product integrity through production, distribution, shelf life, and end-of-life.
Exploring the Heinz Ketchup Bottle of Tomorrow
Over the past few years, we collaborated with Pulpex to develop a paper-based, renewable, and recyclable bottle made from 100 percent sustainably sourced wood pulp. We are proud to be the first sauce brand to test the potential of Pulpex’s sustainable paper bottle packaging for our range of world-famous condiments.
Through this incredible partnership, we developed a prototype to test how Pulpex’s cutting-edge innovation could be used for Heinz tomato ketchup bottles and other packaging formats in years to come.
Pulpex’s current data indicates the carbon footprint of Pulpex bottles is materially less than glass and plastic on a bottle-by-bottle basis. Once used, they are also expected to be widely and readily recyclable in paper waste streams. The next step in the process will involve prototype testing to assess performance before testing with consumers and bringing the bottle to market.
Shake ‘N Bake to Save 900,000 Pounds of Plastic Waste Annually with Brand’s First-Ever Packaging Update
In November 2022, our iconic household staple, Shake ‘N Bake, ushered in a new era for its signature packaging, and removed the plastic ‘shaker’ bag from its products. The change is effective across the Shake ‘N Bake product portfolio and is estimated to eliminate up to approximately 900,000 pounds of plastic waste.
In place of the ‘shaker’ bag, fans are encouraged to shake using a reusable container as the vessel for adding that extra layer of crunch to their favorite recipes. Shake ‘N Bake brand’s sustainability efforts contribute towards reducing packaging and removing virgin plastic from our portfolio.
* Based on weight of consumer and traded packaging materials. Includes materials that are recyclable (96.56 percent of total), widely recyclable – check locally (3.06 percent of total) and other – store drop off or TerraCycle programs (0.38 percent of total). 2022 calculation covers global packaging and select external manufacturing data. Data from our acquisitions in late 2021 were not included but will be in our next ESG report.
