Plastipak Packaging, Inc. has announced a partnership with Kraft Heinz to transition KRAFT® Real Mayo and MIRACLE WHIP® containers to be made entirely from recycled PET (rPET) material. This collaboration aligns with Kraft Heinz’s goal of reducing the use of virgin plastic in its global packaging portfolio by 20% by 2030.
The conversion of KRAFT® Real Mayo and MIRACLE WHIP® containers in the United States to 100% food-grade rPET material is expected to eliminate about 14 million pounds of virgin plastic, thereby reducing the overall carbon emissions of the packaging.
Rashida La Lande, General Counsel & Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer at Kraft Heinz, stated, “We are investing in innovative technologies and partnerships that are critical to helping us redesign packaging, eliminate unnecessary plastic, increase our use of recycled content, and influence the adoption of reuse models. This is one more way we’re renovating our product portfolio to not only offer more sustainable options but to deliver on our consumer expectations.”
Jack Pacente, Vice President of Global Sustainability at Plastipak, emphasized the company’s commitment to the environment, stating, “For decades, our passion for the environment has been at the heart of everything we do. It’s led us to be an industry leader in recycling, as well as a pioneer in responsible packaging design and low-carbon production.”
In 2023, Plastipak’s Bottle-to-Bottle program recycled over 11 billion bottles, increasing their recycling capacity by over 15% for a total of 495 million lbs. The company operates five global recycling centers in Dundee, MI; Toledo, Spain; Hemswell, UK; Bascharage, Luxembourg; and Beaune, France, reflecting its commitment to continually increase recycling capacity through substantial investments in recycling processes and facilities.