In an era where sustainability is no longer a choice but a necessity, Nestlé Central America, in partnership with Ogilvy Colombia, has introduced an extraordinary innovation that reimagines food packaging from the inside out. The groundbreaking development ‘Self-Packing Cheese’ transforms cheese whey, a low-utility by-product of cheese production, into 100% biodegradable, food-safe packaging.
At the heart of this innovation lies a bold idea: what if the product could package itself? This once-overlooked by-product now becomes part of a circular economy, significantly reducing both plastic waste and food industry by-product waste in one elegant solution.
A Circular Breakthrough Rooted in Biotechnology
The concept is as futuristic as it is practical. Cheese whey undergoes a biotechnological transformation, converting its components into polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) a biopolymer with plastic-like properties but entirely biodegradable. The result is a sustainable packaging material that maintains product freshness and integrity, in full compliance with FDA international food safety standards.
This innovative approach is currently being piloted with Nestlé’s ¡Qué Rico! cheese range in Panama, where 5,500 tons of cheese will now come in its own self-derived packaging.
A Dual Impact : Environmental & Consumer-Focused
The ‘Self-Packing Cheese’ (SPC) initiative marks several industry firsts:
- The first primary and secondary packaging solution derived from the product it contains.
- 100% conversion of waste whey into usable bioplastic, eliminating both packaging waste and food processing waste.
- A scalable solution aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals, making it viable for broader adoption beyond cheese.
- Seamless integration into existing manufacturing processes no need for major equipment overhaul.
- A positive consumer message: a cleaner, greener product with a story to tell.
Vision and Collaboration at the Core
According to Gastón Potasz, Chief Creative Officer at Ogilvy Colombia, the innovation is a testament to what’s possible when creativity meets sustainability. “Our Impact Lab was designed to develop real-world solutions that blend advertising, technology, and environmental responsibility. ‘Self-Packing Cheese’ reflects that purpose perfectly solving a problem while transforming waste into value,” he said.
Kim Waigel, Communications and Corporate Affairs Director at Nestlé Central America, added: “This initiative demonstrates the power of cross-functional collaboration in creating shared value. It's a major step in our sustainability journey, and we're excited about the impact it could have on our communities and the planet.”
And with scalability on the horizon, Fabio Quiroga, CEO of Ogilvy Andina, sees this as just the beginning: “This isn’t just a good idea. It’s a tangible, scalable innovation that could redefine packaging as we know it. And the best part it’s already real.”