Heinz, Tesco, SABIC and Berry International collaborate on developing recycled cans for soft packagi

        Heinz and Tesco are starting a recycling trial project to collect recyclable flexible packaging plastics at collection points in Tesco stores to make Snap Pots with 39% recycled plastic content. Other expert partners in the project include Plastic Energy, SABIC and Berry International.

        Tesco plans to collect flexible packaging in its UK stores, which will be sent to Plastic Energy to be processed into raw oil through its TAC process. SABIC uses the oil as a feedstock to process it into virgin, food contact grade polymer plastic pellets. The project is expected to recycle 22 tons of flexible packaging plastics.

        Berry International processes the pellets into cans with 39% recycled content through thermoforming technology at its ISCC-certified factory. The cans are sent to Heinz, filled with beans, and then sold and recycled through Tesco stores.

        The Heinz Beanz cans are convenient and can be heated in the microwave while keeping the product fresh. Heinz said that flexible packaging substrates such as films are difficult to recycle, and as of 2020, only 6% of flexible packaging plastics in the UK were recycled. The project aims to draw industry attention to what can be done to address the recycling problem of flexible packaging plastics in the UK.