Berry Global arms McCormick with recycled PET food dye bottles for carbon cuts

07 Jul 2022 --- McCormick is joining with Berry Global to launch food dye bottles made from 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic to lower its carbon footprint. The partnership leverages Berry’s expertise and access to mechanically recycled PET. 

The McCormick Assorted and Neon Food Color bottles are made from 100% PCR plastic, and scheduled for retailing this month across the US.

The carbon crisis
According to a life cycle assessment, the new PCR bottle will save McCormick 86.8 metric tons of CO2 emissions when compared to the same bottle made from virgin material. This volume equates to a 59% reduction in CO2 emissions.

“By collaborating with suppliers like Berry, we gain access to valuable recycled content. This 100% PCR bottle furthers our journey toward our emission reduction goal through packaging,” says Michael Okoroafor, chief sustainability officer at McCormick.

The bottles are scheduled for retailing this month across the US.

McCormick says it accepts responsibility by ensuring that investments yield tangible results. The company’s Purpose-led Performance Report for 2021 focuses on progress toward delivering financial performance, while also benefiting people, communities, and the planet, according to the US food company.The McCormick food color bottles are scheduled for retailing this month across the US.

This report details a series of commitments and clear performance targets for 2025, and beyond, aligned with the global UN Sustainable Development Goals – reinforcing commitments to sustainable sourcing and raw material procurement, and limiting the company’s environmental impact.

Berry says it is leveraging its scale to acquire over 600 million pounds of recycled plastic by 2025. Customers like McCormick require this effort to meet ambitious environmental sustainability packaging targets. 

In turn, the company’s goal through recycling advancements and the use of responsibly sourced renewable bioplastics is to decouple packaging solutions from fossil fuels that produce virgin plastic.

Promoting circularity
In support of the UN’s global goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, McCormick and Berry have both set 2025 sustainable packaging goals and science-based emissions reduction targets aligned with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C.

McCormick is increasing the circularity of its packaging while lowering associated CO2 emissions by switching to a bottle made entirely of PCR plastic.

“Deadlines for achieving sustainability goals are fast approaching, and brands want partners who can provide effective, impactful ways to reach those commitments quickly. Berry’s sustainability expertise, coupled with access to recycled content, provides the ability to commercialize sustainable packaging solutions with a lower carbon footprint,” says Robert Flores, VP of sustainability at Berry Global.

In related news, the Recycling Partnership recently introduced the PET Recycling Coalition, an initiative informed by industry knowledge and expertise to improve PET circularity. The US-based coalition came as part of The Recycling Partnership’s pathway to circularity and aims to advance the circular economy for all packaging. 

Edited by Mieke Meintjes