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- What we can offer you
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Get them answered by the team at Kraft Heinz.
Background
Kraft Heinz aims to achieve 100% recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging by 2025.
However, finding sustainable materials that maintain the structural integrity required for our manufacturing requirements and food products presents a significant challenge. Many sustainable alternatives either fall short on performance or are not fully compatible with recycling/composting processes, hindering our progress towards this goal.
For example, conventional replacements for aluminum foil do not possess the required structural properties such as dead fold and stiffness at higher temperatures to effectively form, fill and seal in a manufacture environment.
What we're looking for
We are seeking aluminum foil alternative materials that deliver against structural requirements (ex. dead fold and stiffness at higher temperatures) for use with dairy-based food products. Solutions may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Supporting figures
Material / Manufacturing needs, Consumer Performance needs, Out of Scope
PNG • 87.34 KB
Preferred/High/Medium WVTR and OTR values
PNG • 32.64 KB
Solutions of interest include:
- Home or Industrial compostable biopolymer films
- Advanced or mechanical recycling compatible polymers
Our must-have requirements are:
- Developed solution should ultimately provide the required dead fold and stiffness at higher temperatures (above 150 – 180F) to efficiently manufacture with existing machinery.
- Developed solution should ultimately achieve our target oxygen transmission rate (OTR) OR water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) rates and maintains through distribution
- Capable of receiving compliance with direct or indirect food contact requirements per the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act/FDA 21 CFR/EFSA FCM (dairy), or capable of receiving FDA clearance for food contact.
- Compatible with plastic or paper recycling, or industrial composting streams. Depending on application and region of use, potential end-of-life scenarios for packaging with high barrier are: 1) Recyclable in the plastics stream per APR critical guidance, CEFLEX or equivalent (dry and aqueous food products); 2) Recyclable in the fiber/paper stream per the FBA voluntary standard, 4ever green guidelines or equivalent (dry food products); and 3) Industrial composting per ASTM D6400, EN 13432, ISO 17088 or equivalent industrial composting standards; home compostable desired if able to meet performance criteria (aqueous food products)
Our nice-to-have's are:
- Compatible with commercially available processes (e.g., blown film, cast film, co-extrusion, lamination (adhesive or extrusion), roll coating processes, etc.)
- Ability to use material in any of the following ways: emboss, printable, reclose.
- Acid / chemical resistant.
What's out of scope:
- Materials that migrate into the food products.
- Materials with health and environmental hazards, per ASTM standards.
- Materials containing common allergens as defined by the FDA (e.g., shellfish, latex, etc.).
- Materials that contain PFAS, phthalates, or bisphenols
- Materials that are detrimental to the recycling streams and/or composting.
- Solvent cast film technologies
- Wax (combination of wax and polyolefins and or paper) and, PET based films
Acceptable technology readiness levels (TRL):
Levels 2-9
What we can offer you
Eligible partnership models:
Sponsored research
Benefits:
Sponsored Research
Funding is proposal-dependent starting with proof-of-concept, typically ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 for a six-month length project with the potential for expansion based on results and opportunities.Expertise
We offer the expertise of our team of scientists for collaboration and guidance during the development of the project.Who we are
We are driving transformation at The Kraft Heinz Company, inspired by our Purpose, Let's Make Life Delicious. Consumers are at the center of everything we do. With 2021 net sales of approximately $26 billion, we are committed to growing our iconic and emerging food and beverage brands on a global scale. We leverage our scale and agility to unleash the full power of Kraft Heinz across a portfolio of six consumer-driven product platforms. As global citizens, we're dedicated to making a sustainable, ethical impact while helping feed the world in healthy, responsible ways. Learn more about our journey by visiting www.kraftheinzcompany.com or following us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Learn moreReviewers
EA
Edgar Castro Aguirre
Principal Scientist
CL
Clay Ladd
Pkg Engineer
MS
Mirjam Spreeuwenberg
R&D Technology Lead
MR
Maxine Roman
Lead, Innovation Collaboration & Partnerships
Q&A with Kraft Heinz
The Q&A is now closed.
Sort by:
Most upvoted
Q.
What's the current package type or shape used?
JY
April 11, 2024
2
A.
This application would be for various packaging formats. Rectangular envelope, flow wrap with tucked ends or 3 side seal pouch formats. Requires 1 side seal capability.
CL
Clay Ladd, Pkg Engineer, Kraft Heinz
April 11, 2024
Is this response helpful?
1
0
Q.
Can you could share the current structure for this application? Thickness, material layers, sealing technology used?
I have ideas for HDPE based films to achieve the deadfold and barrier target
RC
April 4, 2024
1
A.
The current structure does contain foil which provide the necessary material properties as listed in our table above. Once you submit a proposal, we would be happy to discuss the opportunity in more details pertaining to the current lamination breakdown. I look forward to reviewing your proposal.
CL
Clay Ladd, Pkg Engineer, Kraft Heinz
April 8, 2024
Is this response helpful?
0
0
Q.
If the structure is biodegradable, would it be acceptable to be metalized?
CW
April 17, 2024
1
A.
Hi Cheryl,
Metallization is ok, but the structure needs to be either industrial or home compostable. Biodegradable is broader term, and we would not be able make claims on that.
CL
Clay Ladd, Pkg Engineer, Kraft Heinz
April 18, 2024
Is this response helpful?
1
0
Q.
Could you please confirm whether the primary goal of our project is to replace aluminum with alternative materials in food packaging applications ?
NC
April 26, 2024
1
A.
Hi Naveneetha,
Yes, the primary goal is to replace aluminum with alternative materials in food packaging application that have key properties of aluminum like dead fold and stiffness while meeting CFLEX guidelines for recyclability.
CL
Clay Ladd, Pkg Engineer, Kraft Heinz
April 27, 2024
Is this response helpful?
0
0
Q.
Does the new packaging must be compostable or biodegradable? Can you have a solution that is recyclable, not compostable/bioderadable? Do you want one or the other?
1
A.
We are open to several recyclable avenues.
1) Recyclable in the plastics stream per APR critical guidance, CEFLEX or equivalent (dry and aqueous food products);
2) Recyclable in the fiber/paper stream per the FBA voluntary standard, 4ever green guidelines or equivalent (dry food products); and
3) Industrial composting per ASTM D6400, EN 13432, ISO 17088 or equivalent industrial composting standards; home compostable desired if able to meet performance criteria (aqueous food products)
CL
Clay Ladd, Pkg Engineer, Kraft Heinz
May 27, 2024
Is this response helpful?
1
0
Q.
Would Kraft-Heinz provide dairy products if we wanted to test the products in the proposed packaging? If so, what dairy product would you like to see in our test plan?
1
A.
You can add a cheese analog as an example to your test plan for discussion purposes.
CL
Clay Ladd, Pkg Engineer, Kraft Heinz
May 27, 2024
Is this response helpful?
1
0
Q.
Can you tell how you package your dairy products? Do you need to go thru retorting for sterilization?
1
A.
Product and or package does not go through a retort process. The product is hot filled for the sterilization set (up to 180F).
CL
Clay Ladd, Pkg Engineer, Kraft Heinz
May 27, 2024
Is this response helpful?
1
0
Q.
Do you have a preferred method for stiffness testing at elevated temperature? E.g., DMA or Instron under different humidities and temperatures? Can we send packaging back to Kraft Heinz for testing?
1
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