Food Engineering logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Engineering logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest Headlines
    • Manufacturing News
    • People & Industry News
    • Plant Openings
    • Recalls
    • Regulatory Watch
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Plant Products
    • New Retail Products
  • TOPICS
    • Alternative Protein
    • Automation
    • Cannabis
    • Cleaning | Sanitation
    • Fabulous Food Plants
    • Food Safety
    • Maintenance Strategies
    • OEE
    • Packaging
    • Sustainability
    • More
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Plant Construction Survey
    • Plant of the Year
    • Sustainable Plant of the Year
    • State of Food Manufacturing
    • Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies
  • MEDIA
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • FOOD MASTER
  • EVENTS
    • Food Automation & Manufacturing Symposium and Expo
    • Industry Events
  • RESOURCES
    • eNewsletter
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • FE Store
    • Government Links
    • Industry Associations
    • Market Research
    • Classified Ads
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issue
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Manufacturing News

Packaging weight-loss resolution met two years early

March 1, 2010


Kraft Foods has greatly reduced its use of packaging materials in a variety of products with its Packaging Eco-Calculator, a tool that helps designers create efficient packaging. Source: Kraft Foods.


Kraft Foods set out in 2005 to lose weight in packaging materials throughout its supply chain. Starting the year 2010 off right, the company finds it has eliminated 150 million pounds of excess packaging, exceeding its goal two years ahead of schedule.

According to Jean Spence, executive vice president, research, development & quality (RDQ), employees were creative in finding opportunities to reduce packaging material while assuring convenience and safety. “We’ve invented a tool to help us design more efficiently. And we’re finding smarter source materials, reducing our footprint and thinking differently about packaging end of life,” she adds.

The greatest opportunity to influence the environmental impact based on a package’s size is early in the design phase. Kraft developed its Packaging Eco-Calculator-a tool that helps designers create efficient and optimized packaging.

Oscar Mayer Deli Creations packaging was redesigned with 30% less paperboard, uses less shelf space and is expected to keep 1.2 million pounds of packaging out of landfills per year. In addition, according to Perfecto Perales, senior director for RDQ packaging research, Kraft reduced headspace in Oreo Cakesters packaging, resulting in a 12% smaller carton. 

In Europe, the removal of packaging layers from Milka chocolate bars decreased package weight by 60% and eliminates 5.7 million pounds of packaging material per year. In Australia, Kraft salad dressing bottles were redesigned to eliminate more than 100,000 pounds of plastic per year, and more bottles can be shipped per truckload.

In addition to design changes, material changes can have an impact. In the UK, Kraft sells Kenco coffee in refill bags to complement glass jars. The bags use 97% less packaging material by weight than a new jar and less energy in the packaging conversion process. In North America, Maxwell House, Yuban and Nabob coffee brands are now packaged in composite paperboard that weighs 30% less than the former cans. The paperboard uses 50% recycled content and is expected to eliminate 8.5 million pounds of packaging.

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Global Organic Food & Beverage Market to Grow

    Global Organic Food & Beverage Market to Grow

    With a CAGR of 12.07%, Bonafide Research estimates this...
    People & Industry News
  • skilled MEP worker

    Predicting Food and Beverage Manufacturing Trends for 2024

    The two words that should be kept in mind are labor and...
    Automation
    By: Derrick Teal
  • cleaning and sanitation

    The basics of cleaning and sanitation in food plants

    Sanitation maintains or restores a state of cleanliness...
    Cleaning | Sanitation
    By: Richard F. Stier
Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Customer Service

More Videos

Popular Stories

Conagra Logo

Conagra Brands to Sell Chef Boyardee Brand to Hometown Food Company

Salt

FDA to Amend Standards of Identity to Include Salt Substitutes

Butterfly pea flower

FDA Approves Three Food Colors from Natural Sources

CHECK OUT OUR NEW ESSENTIAL TOPICS

Alternative ProteinAutomationCleaning/SanitationFabulous Food Plants

Food SafetyMaintenance StrategiesOEE

PackagingSustainability

Events

June 5, 2025

Mass Customization Driving Innovation in the Food and Beverage Industry

The food and beverage industry is at the nexus of transformative global manufacturing trends, driving a shift toward personalized, customer-centric solutions. 

June 5, 2025

How Cafe Spice Uses Automation to Propel Private Label

Learn about Cafe Spice’s new, state-of-the-art, highly automated manufacturing facility in Beacon, New York. 

View All Submit An Event

Products

Recent Advances in Ready-to-Eat Food Technology

Recent Advances in Ready-to-Eat Food Technology

See More Products

Plant of the Year

Related Articles

  • A judge's gavel

    Two Recent Rulings Support Current Method for Assessing Prop 65 Exposure

    See More
  • Food waste

    Food Loss & Waste: It’s Everywhere in the Supply Chain

    See More
  • McDonaldâ??s Japan records 7.5 billion yen loss after food scandal

    McDonald’s Japan records 7.5 billion yen loss after food scandal

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • Functionalized_Carbohydrate.gif

    Functionalizing Carbohydrates for Food Applications

See More Products
×

Elevate your expertise in food engineering with unparalleled insights and connections.

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Food Master
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing