Nestlé and IBM use AI to accelerate discovery of sustainable food packaging materials

Nestlé and IBM Use AI to Advance Sustainable Food Packaging

Nestlé and IBM Research have developed an AI tool to speed up the discovery of sustainable, high-barrier food packaging materials. The collaboration focuses on creating packaging that protects food from moisture, oxygen, and temperature changes, which are common causes of spoilage. This innovation targets packaging solutions that meet strict criteria for performance, safety, and environmental impact.

The AI tool uses advanced chemical modeling combined with generative technology. It suggests new material formulations that provide effective barriers while being recyclable and cost-efficient. Traditionally, developing such materials could take years, but AI accelerates this process significantly.

How the AI Tool Works

Nestlé and IBM built a large database of existing materials from public and proprietary sources. They trained a chemical language model to understand molecular structures and their physical-chemical properties. IBM’s regression transformer then analyzed how these molecular features relate to material performance, enabling the AI to propose entirely new packaging compounds.

The goal is to find packaging materials that balance cost, recyclability, and functionality. This approach could streamline the development of sustainable packaging across various food and beverage products.

Industry Perspectives

Stefan Palzer, Nestlé’s Chief Technology Officer, emphasized the role of this AI-powered model in advancing digital transformation within the food and beverage sector. He noted its potential to optimize sustainable packaging development across product lines.

Alessandro Curioni, IBM Research VP Europe & Africa, highlighted generative AI’s growing impact on scientific discovery and its potential to drive sustainable growth in knowledge-based industries.

AI Integration Beyond Packaging

Nestlé is embedding AI across multiple areas of its operations to boost innovation and efficiency. For instance, they have an AI-powered recipe optimization tool that helps balance ingredients, nutrition, cost, and sustainability. In manufacturing, digital twins of equipment and production lines improve efficiency and reduce waste.

This packaging project is part of Nestlé’s wider investment in a new deep tech R&D center focused on AI, sensors, robotics, and virtual/mixed reality. The center aims to accelerate innovation and streamline operations in the food and nutrition sector.

What Product Developers Should Take Away

• AI can cut the time needed to develop new packaging materials from years to months or even weeks.
• Combining chemical modeling with generative AI offers a powerful way to explore novel formulations that meet strict sustainability and performance standards.
• Integrating AI tools across product development—from packaging to recipes—can improve sustainability without sacrificing cost or quality.
• Collaborations between industry leaders and AI research teams can bring specialized expertise that accelerates innovation.

For product developers interested in expanding their AI skills to support innovation, exploring AI courses tailored for product development roles can provide practical knowledge on applying these technologies effectively.