CHICAGO and EVANSVILLE, Indiana, U.S. — Conagra Brands and Berry Global has announced a new package design for Conagra’s Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa line, representing the first major hot cocoa brand to move from round canisters to a more eco-efficient recyclable cube.
Created in partnership with Berry Global’s Blue Clover Studios, the new light blue easy-grip container is made of recyclable plastic with a wraparound in-mold label and a space-efficient tapered cube design that, based on an analysis conducted by Berry Global, reduces the carbon footprint associated with manufacturing and transporting the hot cocoa containers by 15 percent1.
The new package design will initially be used for Conagra Brands’ 38-ounce size Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix.
“This redesign is an important step forward on our sustainable packaging journey,” said Katya Hantel, senior director of sustainable development at Conagra Brands. “We will adopt the recyclable cube design over the next several years, supporting Conagra’s target to make 100% of its plastic packaging renewable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.”
The new design reduces the package’s carbon footprint by 98 metric tons each year due to less energy required to manufacture and transport the material. This is equivalent to avoiding the greenhouse gas emissions of driving a passenger vehicle 243,176 miles, which is further than the average distance from the Earth to the moon2. The new shape also allows Conagra to better utilize space in transit, saving more than 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel annually from fewer truck loads transporting plastic tubs.3
The new Swiss Miss package is the result of a cross-functional design process between Conagra Brands and Berry Global’s Blue Clover Studios, including manufacturing, packaging and business stakeholders.
“The magic happens when the right people come together early and often, which saves time in the long run when launching a new custom package,” said Scott Fisher, Blue Clover Studios design director.
“If your company is committed to sustainability, this package is a giant leap for many reasons,” added Dave Weaver, vice president, product management at Berry Global.
For more information on Conagra Brands sustainability visit https://www.conagrabrands.com/our-company/corporate-social-responsibility.
