Kraft Heinz announced plans to develop a paper-based version of its iconic HEINZ Ketchup bottle, in a move aimed at advancing the company’s sustainable packaging and climate goals.

The new paper-based renewable and recyclable bottle, which would be made from 100% sustainably sourced wood pulp, is being developed by the company in collaboration with sustainable packaging technology company Pulpex.

Pulpex is a first-of-its-kind technology that forms bottles from wood pulp using 100% renewable feedstocks from responsibly managed forests. It was launched in 2020 as a collaboration between venture management company Pilot Lite and beverage alcohol company Diageo. Additional partners in the consortium include Unilever, PepsiCo, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Castrol and Estée Lauder.

Scott Winston, Pulpex CEO, said:

“We believe that the scope for paper-based packaging is huge, and when global household names like HEINZ embrace this type of innovative technology, it’s good news for everyone – consumers and the planet.”

Under the new collaboration, HEINZ and Pulpex are developing a prototype to test how the technology could be used for HEINZ Tomato Ketchup and other packaging formats, and will then assess the prototype’s performance before testing with consumers and bringing the bottle to market.

Rashida La Lande, EVP & Global General Counsel and Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer at Kraft Heinz, said:

“We hope to bring this bottle to market and to be the first sauce brand to provide consumers this choice in their purchasing decisions, as many consumers today are looking for more sustainable packaging options.”

According to the companies, the carbon footprint of the paper-based bottles would be materially lower than glass or plastic bottles, and the bottles would be recyclable in paper waste streams. These attributes would contribute to Kraft Heinz’s sustainability goals, including its targets to make all packaging globally recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025, and to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Kraft Heinz CEO Miguel Patricio, said:

“Packaging waste is an industrywide challenge that we must all do our part to address. That is why we are committed to taking steps to explore sustainable packaging solutions across our brands at Kraft Heinz, offering consumers more choices.”