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Kraft Heinz has collaborated with Berry Global to introduce the first 100% recyclable ketchup cap.

Heinz sauce bottles have previously used a flexible silicone valve, while this aided in the consistency of portion size, the valve made the cap challenging to recycle.

The caps are now a mono-material meaning that they meet the requirements for recyclability.

Heinz and Berry reported that in the results of an extended consumer survey, the new cap would be well received by the public as the new design doesn’t compromise the portion sizes per squeeze, and additionally helps consumers squeeze more ketchup out of the bottle when it is nearly empty.

Heinz has commended its partner’s ability to “look holistically at the overall solution to improve the cap’s performance alongside its recyclability.”

Berry was involved in the design and production process, from concept to the creation of the tools, which were made in Berry’s in-house tool shop. Berry was also heavily involved in the development of the assembly equipment for industrial production.

Matthias Hammersen, sales director – food market for Berry Global, said: “Heinz set us the kind of challenge that suits us and our development departments best: to reconstruct the design of the cap to make it 100% recyclable, without affecting the performance that millions of consumers know and love. We’re delighted that the finished result exceeds our initial expectations and actually improves the consumer experience.”

Heinz claims the move to the recyclable cap will save a potential 300 million plastic lids from being sent to landfill every year globally.

Jojo de Noronha, president of Kraft Heinz Northern Europe, said: “We know our consumers care about their impact on the environment and so do we, which is why we’re delighted to see our innovative, more sustainable caps on Heinz Tomato Ketchup bottles across the UK. 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.”

The caps are being rolled out UK-wide on 400ml and bigger top-down bottles of Heinz Tomato Ketchup.

In the future, the cap will also be rolled out across more of the Heinz sauces range in the U.K. and Europe.