Kickstart: Squeezy sustainability

Time to catch up with some sustainable packaging news courtesy of Kraft Heinz, which has eliminated a silicone part on its caps to make its ketchup bottles fully recyclable in some markets.

The United Kingdom is the first to get the redesigned cap, which Kraft Heinz says could potentially mean 300 million plastic caps can be recycled. The existing caps use a flexible silicone valve, "which, while great for delivering just the right amount of ketchup, was typically a challenge to recycle." The company did not specify which material it is using on the new caps.

"Although a small change, this makes it easy for the millions of Heinz lovers across the country to recycle their whole squeezy bottle at once — a small action with big potential for impact," Jojo de Noronha, president of Kraft Heinz Northern Europe, said.

The cap will be rolled out to other products and other regions, Kraft Heinz said.

The cars that will go on sale in the next few years will still be made with steel and aluminum and plastics (of course) but they'll also be made with hemp and bamboo.

Press conferences and displays for the 750 exhibitors taking part in Europe's largest car show, IAA Mobility — happening in Munich Sept. 5-10 — of course want to stress companies' investments in technology and new materials. They imagine their part in a world with a more sustainable transportation system.

But beyond the show floor, the key question remains: Will people buy these new vehicles?

EVs have been stealing all the thunder at auto shows for a few years, but organizers maintain the 2023 show could be part of a tipping point, with more carmakers setting themselves up to compete with Tesla and China-based automakers in the EV arena. The auto industry as we've known it took shape in places like Munich 135 years ago.

"The second revolution, towards environmentally friendly mobility, also finds its home here," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at the show.

There seems to be more focus on getting cars out on the market now, rather than just showing some future design concept.

BMW says its Neue Klass is close to market but futuristic enough to "look like we skipped a model generation," its design chief, Adrian van Hooydonk, said.

There are just a few hours left to nominate companies for the 2023 Plastics News Processor of the Year.

PN extended the deadline for the honor to Sept. 7.

The nomination step is the easiest in the process. Once nominated, companies will need to complete a full submission by Oct. 1. From there, PN staffers will narrow things down to a group of finalists.

You can find a link for nominations here and more information from Editor Don Loepp here.