McCormick, known for its line of herbs and spices, announced last week a redesign of its core red cap-branded product packaging for the first time in nearly 40 years. It has designed the new packaging to better maintain freshness and minimize food waste while incorporating recycled content.
The Maryland-based company with global sales is a signatory to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. McCormick says the 50% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic bottles it’s rolling out this year have an approximately 18% to 23% smaller carbon footprint across sizes. The caps are not made with PCR.
The company also said the redesign features prominent product names and best-by dates on the lid. Additionally, an “improved bottling process draws out excess air during filling, reducing the amount of oxygen inside which can impact freshness over time.” McCormick said new proprietary snap-closure lids “audibly seal in flavor.”
EMF’s Global Commitment 2021 Signatory Report shows that McCormick sourced about 2.5% of material from postconsumer recycled content. In July, McCormick launched 100% PCR assorted and neon food color bottles with Berry Global as the supplier.
In a 2021 report, McCormick stated its packaging-related goals include reducing its carbon footprint from packaging by 25% and achieving 100% circular plastics packaging (packaging that can be reused, recycled or repurposed) in consumer products, by 2025. Those goals are from 2015 baselines. 2021’s progress was a 10.4% decrease in carbon footprint and 84% of plastic packaging considered circular, the report stated.
The company said in the 2021 report it is “removing all problematic plastics” within its products and “developing more sustainable packaging.”
“This includes the use of recycled content into PET bottles and HDPE mustard bottles. Additionally, we are aiming for 80% recycling and recovery of solid waste from our facilities,” the report stated.
