Nestlé has partnered with IBM Research to accelerate the discovery and deployment of sustainable packaging materials using advanced artificial intelligence tools. The collaboration aims to cut development timelines from years to months while improving material performance and recyclability.
Scientists from both companies are employing AI-driven processing techniques to compile a knowledge base of packaging materials from public and proprietary sources. IBM has fine-tuned a chemical language model on this dataset, enabling it to understand the relationship between molecular structures and their physical-chemical properties. This approach allows the model to suggest novel, high‑barrier materials capable of protecting sensitive products from moisture, oxygen and temperature fluctuations.
“This novel AI-powered language model, developed in collaboration with IBM Research, illustrates how Nestlé is leading the digital transformation within the food and beverage industry,” said Stefan Palzer, Nestlé’s Chief Technology Officer. “In the future, such breakthrough technology could be used to optimise the development of more sustainable packaging solutions across product categories.”
Nestlé’s goal is to reduce its use of virgin plastics by moving towards recyclable mono-materials and paper-based solutions. Any new packaging materials identified through the AI platform will also be assessed for cost-effectiveness, food safety and regulatory compliance.
Alessandro Curioni, IBM Research’s Vice President for Europe and Africa, described the partnership as a demonstration of how generative AI can “disrupt scientific discovery, impacting the core business of all knowledge-based industries, allowing critical differentiation and sustainable growth.”
The initiative forms part of a broader digital transformation strategy at Nestlé, which includes AI-assisted recipe formulation, virtual modelling of manufacturing processes, and digital platforms offering personalised nutritional recommendations. The company has also opened a dedicated R&D facility to test and scale emerging technologies such as robotics, advanced sensors and immersive virtual reality tools.
