Heinz plans to introduce a significant change to its Tomato Ketchup squeezy bottles by adopting a “100% recyclable” cap. This move is aimed at making the entire packaging compatible with standard kerbside collection methods, resulting in the recycling of around 300 million plastic caps annually.
Expected to be launched in August, the new cap is made from a single material, ensuring easy recycling without compromising on the squeeze functionality. The previous design, with its flexible silicone valve, was a hindrance to recyclability and is now being replaced with this eco-friendly alternative.
In addition to its eco-friendly benefits, a study conducted by Heinz in 2020 revealed that the new “100% recyclable” cap also enhances the consumer experience by allowing them to extract more ketchup from the bottle, particularly when it’s nearly empty.
The inclusion of the “100% recyclable” message on the cap will serve as an identification marker for bottles featuring the new design. By implementing this change, Heinz aims to prevent caps from ending up in landfills, thereby contributing to The Kraft Heinz Company’s broader objective of reducing its consumption of virgin plastic by 20% by 2030. Moreover, this initiative aligns with the company’s commitment to ensuring that all its packaging becomes recyclable, reusable, or compostable by the year 2025.
Recognizing the shared concern of consumers and the company regarding environmental impact, the new caps provide a more sustainable option for the packaging.
While it may seem like a small change, the introduction of these recyclable caps enables millions of Heinz lovers throughout the country to recycle their entire squeezy bottle in one go. This seemingly small action holds significant potential for making a positive impact on the environment. The company is committed to providing easy and accessible ways for consumers to contribute to sustainability efforts, demonstrating their dedication to creating a greener future.
Adam Herriott, senior sector specialist at WRAP, expressed full support for Heinz’s innovative approach and praised the packaging development. He acknowledged that all products and their packaging have an impact on the environment.
While the ideal scenario would involve preventing or eliminating excessive packaging (following the waste hierarchy), he emphasized that packaging serves a vital practical and convenient role. Thus, the focus should be on making sure that a significant portion of the packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable. This approach aligns with the broader goal of reducing the environmental impact of packaging waste and promoting sustainability throughout the industry.
“Through the UK Plastics Pact, our members have taken significant strides in bringing about transformative changes and introducing innovative solutions to maximize reusing, recycling, refilling, and composting practices. While we have made groundbreaking progress, there is still much work ahead of us to achieve our set targets and establish a circular economy for plastics,” says Herriott.
The new caps from Heinz will initially be introduced for their 400 ml and larger top-down bottles of Heinz Tomato Ketchup, as well as their 50% Less Sugar and Salt variants. As the rollout begins, these caps are expected to be extended to encompass Heinz’s broader range of sauces across the UK and Europe in the future.
In a related development, Asda has recently joined other retailers in adopting clear caps for their own-label fresh milk packaging. This switch is anticipated to enable the recycling of approximately 207 million plastic milk caps annually.
Furthermore, Arla Foods is actively pursuing a significant reduction of 500 tonnes of plastic on a yearly basis by partnering with Blue Ocean Closures to produce a fiber-based cap for their milk cartons.
