What if cheese could wrap itself? This scenario is becoming reality in Panama, where Nestlé is testing a packaging film made from whey from its own production. Developed with advertising agency Ogilvy Colombia, the prototype, called Self-Packing Cheese (SPC), is designed to reduce plastic and production waste.
This project is based on the valorization of an often under-exploited and abundant dairy by-product: whey. "Billions of liters of whey waste are produced every year. Left unmanaged, they damage ecosystems and deplete oxygen in rivers and lakes." explains Kim Waigel, Communications Manager for Nestlé Central America, in the YouTube video presenting Self-Packing Cheese.
Thanks to a biotechnological transformation process, this liquid is converted into PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate), a biopolymer with properties similar to those of plastic, but biodegradable in 300 days compared with 900 years for plastic to decompose.
A biodegradable, food-safe and printable film
The idea was born in the workshops of the Impact Lab, a unit dedicated to advertising innovation and sustainable development within Ogilvy Colombia, which mobilized a multidisciplinary team.
According to Nestlé statements reported in several industry media, this material complies with FDA standards for food contact. The translucent film protects the nutritional qualities, taste and freshness of the cheese, while being printable like conventional packaging.
The industrial-scale test is underway on primary and secondary packaging for the ¡ Qué Rico! brand, distributed in Panama. The Swiss multinational plans to produce 5,500 tonnes of cheese there this year.
An innovation that can be adapted to other food segments
"This major environmental and business impact could be reflected not only in cheese packaging, but also in a widely used solution. Imagine the result of this discovery! Above all, we are committed to developing solutions that are not only effective today, but also sustainable for future generations." says Potas, Creative Director of Ogilvy Colombia.
For Fabio Quiroga, CEO of Ogilvy Andina, too, "the SPC is a revolutionary innovation, real and tangible, with considerable potential to revolutionize the future of packaging thanks to its scalability."
