Last updated on June 14th, 2024
Heinz is introducing 100 percent recyclable caps for its squeezy sauce bottles. The new caps, which are made of a single type of material, are the result of eight years of research and development involving more than 185,000 hours and $1.2 million.
Heinz produced 45 different designs in total to create the new caps, which were printed in-house using a 3D printer. After creating the prototypes, Heinz then followed a testing procedure to make sure the cap met the highest quality standards.
The first Heinz varieties to get the new cap will be Heinz Tomato Ketchup and Heinz BBQ Sauce. The cap will be rolled out globally from 2022, starting in Europe.
According to the company, the move will mean a potential one billion plastic caps – enough to fill 35 Olympic swimming pools – can be recycled, instead reaching landfills.
The squeezy bottles sold one billion units globally in 2020. The company said the new cap dispenses the same amount of sauce without affecting squeezability.
To date, Heinz sauce bottles have used a flexible valve, which was typically challenging to recycle.
“We’re excited to be announcing these first-to-market innovative new caps, meaning our consumers can now recycle every part of their Heinz squeezy bottle in their weekly curbside collection,” said Jojo de Noronha, president of Kraft Heinz Northern Europe. “A huge amount of work has gone into finding the right solution that means no compromise on using and enjoying our hugely popular squeezy bottles for the hundreds of millions who buy them. While we know we still have more to do, from a sustainability and environmental perspective this is positive news.”
Heinz is co-headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
In other recent company news, The Kraft Heinz Co. recently reached an agreement to purchase Assan Foods from privately held Turkish conglomerate, Kibar Holding, in a deal that values the enterprise at approximately $100 million.
