Compostable packaging landscape to support Kraft Heinz Company ESG goals

Compostable Packaging Landscape to supThe transition towards more sustainable solutions for packaging sees companies making big efforts in order to comply to progressively more restrictive regulations and transitioning from a linear to a green and circular economic model. Kraft Heinz, as one of the most important food companies globally, is committed to contributing to this ultimate objective through its ESG goals (Environmental and Social Governance goals). Being a major producer of food goods, packaging plays a crucial role in the company’s economy and research is carried out continuously at Kraft Heinz in order to increase the sustainability of the packaging portfolio. This work explores the compostable materials landscape to find innovative solutions to help the company’s sustainability goals. The first part of the work examines the regulatory framework to which the packaging needs to comply while also giving a brief overview on Kraft Heinz packaging portfolio; based on this analysis the thesis proposes guidelines for eco-design and decision-making for selecting suitable packaging materials. The second part goes more into details on compostable materials, investigating the requirements that food-contact materials need, assessing the challenges of compostable materials for these applications and establishing an experimental procedure to test the suitability of these materials with specific Kraft Heinz products. The third part includes experimental work that was done on innovative materials to test their performances as packaging materials. The findings of this study contribute to Kraft Heinz efforts to transition towards a more sustainable packaging portfolio and align with sustainability objectives. port Kraft Heinz Company ESG Goals