Managing for Excellence

As Heinz drives for continued improvement in our environmental performance, we have policies and practices in place to ensure compliance with local, state, and national regulations and laws, and our own stringent requirements. The Heinz Global Environmental Policy provides common standards for all of our facilities, including implementation of our Environmental Management System. Our systematic approach includes employee training and education, setting annual goals and targets, and working with suppliers and contractors to reduce their environmental impact.

Lighter Cans for a Greener Planet 

Heinz is taking a “can-do” approach to reduce environmental impacts in the United Kingdom. In February 2006, we introduced a lighter, easy-open can for products such as our Heinz soups.

By using a thinner tinplate with up to 60 percent recycled steel for the can ends, the environment benefits.

How?
This single packaging innovation reduces the weight of cans, and reduces consumption of both steel and tinplate for the can end manufactured in the U.K. by nearly 1,400 tons annually. The lighter cans also reduce the overall weight of products being transported, which in turn leads to improved fuel efficiency.

Heinz is now making design changes to reduce the weight and thickness of can bodies. Once testing for strength and performance is complete, we intend to adopt the more environmentally-friendly cans in other markets where we sell canned products, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Through packaging and process innovations like those in the U.K., Heinz can make a world of difference for the global environment, one product at a time.

The new can end won a gold award for technical innovation at the Metal Packaging Manufacturers’ Association Best in Metal awards. It was also highly commended at the UK Packaging Awards.

If you would like to know more about the Steel can recycling story, go to;
www.scrib.org