AI Supercharges the Race for Smarter, Greener Food Packaging

Nestlé and IBM tap AI to cut years off packaging R&D, driving faster, safer, and more sustainable solutions for the food industry.

8 Jul 2025

A bold alliance between Nestlé and IBM Research is reshaping the future of food packaging. By leveraging cutting-edge AI, the the companies are accelerating the discovery of sustainable materials that protect food while reducing environmental harm.

The collaboration comes as the food industry faces mounting pressure to replace hard-to-recycle plastics and comply with stricter sustainability regulations. At the heart of the project is generative modeling, an AI technique that sifts through massive datasets to design novel packaging solutions optimized for both performance and recyclability.

This technology enables packaging engineers to pinpoint materials that keep products fresh and safe, while also being simpler to recycle. Nestlé is already applying the system to overhaul its packaging for moisture- and oxygen-sensitive foods, replacing complex multi-layer films with more sustainable alternatives.

What previously took years of trial and error can now unfold in a fraction of the time. “This novel AI-powered language model illustrates how Nestlé is leading the digital transformation within the food and beverage industry,” said Stefan Palzer, Nestlé’s Chief Technology Officer.

There are still hurdles. AI-generated materials must undergo rigorous real-world testing before commercial use, and data-sharing remains a sensitive issue among companies. But the momentum is undeniable. As more firms explore AI-driven breakthroughs in compostable packaging and bio-based adhesives, the pace of change is accelerating.

This partnership signals a pivotal shift, where machine intelligence meets material science to drive smarter, greener solutions. For an industry often slow to adapt, AI is emerging as the catalyst for packaging that aligns with a circular economy and rising consumer expectations.

The food sector may be just scratching the surface of AI’s potential, but the early results are clear: innovation is speeding up, sustainability is gaining ground, and the future of packaging is being redesigned at algorithmic speed.