Kraft Heinz has introduced 100% recycled PET bottles for its 12- and 22-oz sizes of Kraft Real Mayo and Miracle Whip, with the balance of its container sizes scheduled to launch in the new packaging by year-end. The move comes following the company’s announcement last year of a new goal to reduce the use of virgin plastic in its global packaging portfolio by 20% by 2030.
According to Kraft Heinz, the switch to 100% rPET for its full range of container sizes will result in the elimination of about 14 million lb of virgin plastic. In addition, depending on the size, the transition to the new container will result in a 36 to 43% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) versus the current packaging, based on 2022 volumes.
 | Read about another packaging innovation from Kraft Heinz in this related article, “Kraft Heinz Introduces First Fully Recyclable Ketchup Cap” |
To make the change, Kraft Heinz worked with long-time packaging partner Plastipak Packaging, a designer, manufacturer, and recycler of plastic containers. Says Chris Max, research lead, R&D – Packaging Development for Kraft Heinz, “For nearly four decades … they’ve helped us design and manufacture packaging that protects the product from our production facilities all the way to consumers’ tables.”
According to Max, when Kraft Heinz sets out to develop a new and alternative packaging solution, there’s a lot for the company to consider. “First and foremost, packaging is about protecting the product, so it must deliver against our food-safety requirements,” he says.
Kraft Heinz' Chris Max (foreground) joins with team that helped transition the company's Real Mayo and Miracle Whip bottles to 100% rPET.
“Packaging must also fulfill consumer expectations and function the way they have come to trust. And finally, we need to make sure we have the internal infrastructure to support the changes, meaning any new packaging developments need to fit seamlessly into our production lines.”
For the new Real Mayo and Miracle Whip containers, Plastipak optimized its manufacturing process to ensure the performance of the packaging remained uncompromised after the transition to recycled content and worked with Kraft Heinz to leverage best-practice quality protocols.
One concern with recycled content is whether it contains contaminants that may affect product safety. For Kraft Heinz, delivering high-quality, safe foods is understandably one of its biggest priorities. “All materials used in our packaging must meet FDA requirements for food contact and be safe and suitable for the intended use,” Max explains. “At Kraft Heinz, we also mandate all recycled material be certified by an Association of Plastic Recyclers [APR]-approved body.”
Consumers can find Kraft Real Mayo and Miracle Whip in the new 12- and 22-oz rPET bottles on U.S. retail shelves today. Kraft Heinz says its 8-, 15-, 30-, and 48-oz jars for the spreads will be available in rPET by the end of 2024. PW
