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Ketchup goes green

Heinz Tomato Ketchup refills launched on Loop, the zero-waste online groceries shop
Jarvis Smith - My Green Pod
Ketchup goes green

Love Ketchup, and also keen to reduce your carbon footprint?

You’re in luck: Heinz has unveiled its part in a sustainability initiative that will see its iconic octagonal glass Tomato Ketchup bottles used, collected, cleaned and refilled.

Heinz has partnered with Loop, a waste-free online shop that has launched in partnership with Tesco. The shop allows consumers to responsibly buy products in refillable packaging that is collected, professionally cleaned and refilled by the manufacturer after use.


‘While we know we always have more to do, we’ve been innovating better packaging solutions since 1869 and are constantly working to make further positive steps to reduce our impact on the planet: all of our cans and bottles can already be recycled, with the aim of ensuring 100% of our packaging is recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.

‘We have made our 100% recyclable steel cans a lot lighter over the years, and we are working on making our recyclable Heinz Tomato Ketchup squeezy bottle fully ‘circular’ by 2022, by using recycled material that can be made back into food-grade packaging. 



’What’s more, our unique tomatoes grow abundantly on the vine, which not only gives us that unmistakable taste of Heinz, but also helps us get more from our fields, save water and cut down on waste. Anything that doesn’t go into our ketchup gets used in feed, compost or fertiliser to help grow the next delicious crop.’

JOJO DE NORONHA
Kraft Heinz Northern Europe President

Circular shopping

Customers on the circular shopping platform put their empty containers into the tote bag the product was delivered in and go online to schedule a packaging pickup and product refill. A deposit is paid on each piece of packaging and is fully refunded upon return.

Heinz Tomato Ketchup is one of 150 products available on the Loop online shop, including sauces, yoghurts, soaps, pasta, rice, moisturisers, chocolate and washing detergents. They all come in durable and fully reusable packaging. For a limited time, there is free shipping on all orders.


Earlier this year, Heinz announced the removal of all shrink wrap from multipacks of its canned varieties in UK Tesco stores, saving 175 tonnes of plastic annually.

A history of the Heinz bottle

In 1869, Henry J Heinz started selling his products in clear glass bottles. At this time, brown opaque bottles were commonly used by other food manufacturers to cover up adulterated ingredients.

Heinz Tomato Ketchup was first launched in the US in clear glass bottles in 1876; in 1889 Heinz introduced an octagonal bottle for Heinz Tomato Ketchup. It was then patented in 1890.

‘Our patented iconic glass octagonal Heinz Tomato Ketchup bottle is 130 years old this year and is just as relevant today as it was then, making it the perfect packaging solution for the Loop partnership – ready for refill and reuse time after time.’

JOJO DE NORONHA
Kraft Heinz Northern Europe President

The first version of today’s iconic glass bottle shape had a narrow neck to prevent too much air from getting into the bottle and browning the ketchup.

Ketchup exits the iconic glass bottle at 0.028 miles per hour. However, if it pours unaided at more than 0.028 mph, it’s rejected for sale.

To release Heinz Tomato Ketchup from its glass bottle with extra speed, apply a firm tap to the spot marked ’57’ on the neck label.

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