Nestlé has entered into a strategic collaboration with IBM Research to advance the future of food packaging through artificial intelligence. This partnership has produced a groundbreaking generative AI tool that can identify novel high-barrier packaging materials—an innovation set to transform how products are protected and preserved.

Announced on July 3, 2025, the initiative is led by Nestlé’s R&D division and leverages IBM’s AI research capabilities to address multiple industry challenges: improving food safety, extending shelf life, minimizing waste, and accelerating the shift away from virgin plastic.

Next-Generation Packaging Materials

The AI tool developed through this collaboration is capable of suggesting new packaging structures by analyzing massive data sets on material properties, barrier performance, and environmental resistance. The identified materials are designed to block moisture, oxygen, and temperature changes, which are critical in preserving product quality, especially for sensitive food and beverage items.

"We are using AI to solve packaging challenges that were previously out of reach," Nestlé stated. By targeting high-barrier, recyclable materials, the company is also making strides toward replacing multilayer plastics—a category notorious for being difficult to recycle.

Reducing Virgin Plastic through Innovation

Nestlé’s broader packaging strategy focuses on mono-materials and fiber-based solutions, aiming to reduce dependency on virgin plastic. With IBM’s generative AI, Nestlé can now simulate and optimize new packaging formulations before they’re physically produced, greatly shortening the innovation cycle.

This breakthrough complements Nestlé’s ongoing efforts to transition to a circular economy model. In recent years, the company has piloted paper-based and mono-PE packaging for products across its global portfolio, and this latest development adds a powerful new layer to its R&D capabilities.

AI in Packaging: A Growing Trend

This collaboration marks a significant leap forward in how artificial intelligence is being deployed in the packaging sector. Rather than relying solely on trial-and-error R&D, companies like Nestlé are now able to harness data science to design sustainable materials tailored for specific food protection needs.

By integrating AI into material discovery, packaging companies can address functionality, safety, and environmental impact in parallel—something previously limited by cost and time constraints.

IBM’s involvement reflects the increasing role of cross-industry partnerships in solving environmental and operational challenges in packaging. With growing regulatory pressure and consumer demand for sustainable products, AI-driven material discovery may soon become standard practice in the sector.

A Blueprint for Future R&D

This initiative not only benefits Nestlé’s supply chain but also sets a precedent for the food and beverage industry at large. It exemplifies how emerging technologies can redefine innovation timelines and outcomes, helping brands respond faster to sustainability goals and shifting market demands.

As packaging regulations tighten and environmental expectations rise, the collaboration between Nestlé and IBM could serve as a blueprint for future R&D in the industry—driven by AI, data, and a commitment to a more sustainable future.