In partnership with Cazoolo, Danone leads sustainable innovation and launches lighter packaging inspired by nature with lower environmental impact

The solution was developed in partnership with Graham Packaging, Amazu, and Cazoolo, Braskem’s circular packaging design lab.

Danone Brazil, a leader in dairy and specialized nutrition products, has taken another decisive step toward a more sustainable future. The company announces the launch of its new 100g packaging for dairy products — such as Activia, Danoninho, and Actimel — combining high technical performance with nature-inspired design and a significant reduction in end-of-life waste generation.

The result of a collaborative project supported by Cazoolo – Braskem’s circular packaging design lab – along with Amazu and Graham Packaging, the new packaging aligns with Danone’s long-term vision of combining innovation with sustainability. The project was inspired by natural design patterns, including coral formations, armadillo shells, and elephant trunks. The goal was to create an innovative model with a hexagonal texture (similar to honeycombs) that would provide greater structural integrity and optimize filling, distribution, and transportation processes.

“We are proud to deliver to the market a solution that reinforces our commitment to being an increasingly sustainable and innovative company. This new packaging reflects our strategy to optimize plastic use while improving the environmental performance of our products. Since 2015, we have globally reduced our carbon emissions by 38%, and this innovation marks another important milestone on that journey,” says Gustavo Alvarez, Director of R&I at Danone Brazil.

The new packaging features a biomimetic design and is 8% lighter than the previous version, without compromising integrity or functionality, achieving a reduction in environmental impact according to the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). “We developed the project in a highly collaborative way, drawing inspiration from nature to solve challenges. This led to an innovative design that met all planned requirements,” adds Mathew Joseph, General Manager at Graham Packaging.

Strong focus and study about circularity

The project was developed through intense collaboration between Danone specialists, Graham Packaging teams, Amazu Biomimicry consultants, and the Cazoolo team. A five-day sprint brought the teams together to redesign the packaging with a focus on circular economy through biomimicry , a  science has inspiration of nature’s solutions developed over billions of years of evolution. The Design for Environment (DfE) methodology was also used, applying Life Cycle Assessment  to map the environmental impact throughout the development process.

“During the creative stages, we proposed dynamics that accelerated innovation and led to a solution that addressed the brand’s challenge with both economic and environmental benefits. By bringing together all links in the chain to work toward a common goal, we reduced risks and achieved results quickly and effectively. We are very proud of this packaging, conceived at Cazoolo, now reaching the market,” says Yuri Tomina, head of Cazoolo. The process also included high-fidelity 3D printing for prototype development, which was key to validating creative routes, speeding up steps, and maintaining high standards of quality and safety. The result is packaging that not only meets technical requirements but also communicates Danone’s commitment to the planet.

Giane Brocco, CEO of Amazu Biomimicry, comments: “At Amazu, we believe nature is the greatest designer of efficient and sustainable solutions. That’s why we joined forces with Danone, Cazoolo, and Graham Packaging, applying the Bio Sprint method to bring biomimicry principles into the creation of more sustainable packaging. Inspired by nature’s extraordinary engineering, we developed innovative solutions that balance high performance, innovation, lower environmental impact, and regeneration.”

This initiative reinforces Danone’s commitment to halving the use of virgin fossil-based packaging by 2040, with a 30% reduction by 2030. The company, the first major food and beverage company in Brazil to achieve B Corp certification for all its brands, continues its journey toward global certification by 2025, aligned with its “One Planet, One Health” vision, which recognizes the interdependence between people’s health and the planet’s health.

By prioritizing nature-based solutions, Danone not only delivers quality products but also contributes meaningfully to the transition to a circular, low-carbon economy — a movement that should inspire the entire sector. “The new 100g packaging reflects our ambition to unite innovation and sustainability at every stage of the value chain. With nature-inspired design and significant weight reduction, we reinforce Danone’s commitment to solutions that generate positive impact — from farm to table. Just as we do with the Flora Journey, promoting regenerative practices and decarbonization in the dairy chain, we also seek to innovate in packaging that respects the planet and meets the expectations of increasingly conscious consumers,” says Mário Rezende, Vice President of Operations and Sustainability at Danone Brazil.