The Kraft Heinz Company has recently released its 2023 ESG report, highlighting its progress toward goals across three priority pillars: healthy living and community support, environmental stewardship, and responsible sourcing.
In the realm of environmental stewardship, achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 remains a top priority for the company. Other prominent efforts include adopting sustainable packaging options, energy conservation and waste reduction.
Outside of this, Kraft Heinz actively collaborates with other businesses, nonprofit organizations, and experts to drive environmental changes. Notable partnerships include one with Pulpex and investments in renewable electricity.
“As we work to lead the future of food, we strive to do so responsibly,” said CEO and chair Miguel Patricio. “And as one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world, we embrace the opportunity that comes with our size and scale to have a profound impact on communities around the world and in the lives of consumers, customers, employees, and partners.
“Together, we are pioneering and advancing solutions that are transforming the products we bring to market to make a lasting, positive impact around us.”
Kraft Heinz: Key environmental takeaways
Kraft Heinz is actively working to address environmental challenges by innovating across its operational footprint and value chain to unlock solutions related to energy, carbon, water, packaging, and waste.
It further collaborates with industry groups to improve recycling infrastructure and explore alternative materials.
Here are the primary takeaways from its ESG report:
The path towards net zero
Kraft Heinz reports the development of innovative packaging solutions that support its net zero ambitions. This includes a pilot with Pulpex for the HEINZ Tomato Ketchup, which resulted in a paper-based, renewable, and recyclable bottle made from 100% sustainably sourced wood pulp.
A focus on renewable electricity
The company contracted renewable electricity in Europe and the US, which is expected to cover approximately 46% of the company’s current manufacturing facility demand over the next two years.
Sustainable packaging innovations
Kraft Heinz, through its HEINZ brand, collaborated with Pulpex to develop a paper-based bottle made from 100% sustainably sourced wood pulp.
The company also introduced a new sachet design made with 35% recycled material on a mass balance basis and is recycle-ready based on future infrastructure, to be circulated in Europe.
Reducing waste across operations
This year, Kraft Heinz successfully achieved a zero waste-to-landfill status at its facilities in Elst, Netherlands and Pasuruan, Indonesia. This brings the total number of such facilities to 16.
An 18.4% reduction in waste-to-landfill intensity was additionally accomplished across its manufacturing facilities, progressing towards its goal of a 20% reduction by 2025.
Responsible sourcing
Kraft Heinz has placed significant efforts on responsible sourcing to ensure concerns such as human rights, deforestation, animal welfare, and sustainable agriculture are appropriately addressed. This year, 75% of the HEINZ ketchup tomatoes were sustainably sourced in line with the company’s Sustainable Agricultural Practices Manual.
The company has invested in other initiatives including increasing gender equality in Brazilian logistics and providing educational events focused on climate change and sustainable farming methods in Egypt, as well.
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