Sistema is a New Zealand-born storage and food-container brand that grew from a small garage operation into an international consumer-products business. Its products are designed around the principle that everyday storage should be functional, space-efficient, reusable, durable, and easy to use.

Although the company began with plastic products such as coat hangers, its international identity became strongly associated with food storage. Today, the Sistema portfolio extends beyond traditional containers to include lunch and snack boxes, reusable bottles, microwave cookware, pantry organisation, and other household-storage products.3 The brand describes itself as focused on innovation, design, and sustainability while retaining manufacturing in New Zealand, stating that its products are used by millions of consumers worldwide.

Early beginnings

The origins of Sistema lie with Brendan Lindsay, a New Zealand entrepreneur who started a plastics business from his garage in Cambridge, New Zealand, in 1982. His initial products included plastic coat hangers before the company expanded into other plastic goods and eventually into food and household storage.4 The early business was built with modest resources during a difficult economic period in 1980s New Zealand, gradually developing manufacturing capabilities and expanding its product range.5

In 1987, Lindsay established Sistema Plastics Limited, marking the formal development of the company that would become internationally known as Sistema.2

Shift toward household products

A pivotal development in the company’s history was its move toward purpose-designed plastic household products, particularly food-storage containers. Rather than treating containers simply as plastic boxes, Sistema focused on features such as stackability, space efficiency, secure closures, modular shapes, food-safe materials, reusability, visibility of contents, compatibility with refrigerators and freezers, and convenient everyday handling. This approach became central to the brand’s identity.

International expansion

Sistema evolved from a local manufacturer into an international consumer brand, expanding into major markets including Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, continental Europe, and North America. By the time of its acquisition, the company was exporting to a vast international customer base.6 Notably, much of its manufacturing remained in New Zealand rather than being moved entirely offshore, with its Auckland operation becoming a major automated production facility.

A significant turning point occurred in 2016–2017 when Sistema was acquired by Newell Brands, a large American consumer-products company. The acquisition was announced at a value of approximately US$472 million (commonly reported as NZ$660 million in New Zealand media) and was completed in April 2017.19 Under Newell Brands, Sistema became part of a larger international portfolio. Importantly, the acquisition did not eliminate the brand’s New Zealand manufacturing identity; Sistema continues to describe its products as New Zealand made, and its principal manufacturing operation remains in Auckland.7

Sistema maintains significant manufacturing operations in New Zealand. Its Auckland facility is a highly automated, purpose-built site that became fully operational in 2016, covering approximately 50,000 square metres and containing more than 80 moulding machines.8 The company utilises advanced manufacturing technologies including injection moulding, robotics, automated assembly, automated storage and retrieval systems, computerised manufacturing monitoring, enterprise resource planning, and warehouse-management systems.9 This model has allowed Sistema to maintain large-scale production while retaining its New Zealand manufacturing heritage.

Food storage

Food storage remains the core of the brand. Containers are designed for use in refrigerators, freezers, pantries, kitchen cupboards, meal preparation, leftovers, and dry-food storage. The best-known design characteristic is the combination of modular shapes and locking clips. For example, the KLIP IT range uses modular shapes intended to maximise space efficiency and features Sistema’s signature locking clips and flexible seals.10

Lunch boxes

Sistema produces lunch boxes and storage systems aimed at school, work, and everyday use. These products generally emphasise compartments, portion separation, reusability, easy cleaning, portable designs, and stackable or modular construction.

Drink bottles

Reusable hydration products form another major category, with drink bottles designed for everyday use at school, work, exercise, travel, and other activities.15

Microwave products

The brand manufactures products specifically for microwave cooking and reheating. Some food-storage containers are microwave-safe without their lids, subject to specific product instructions.11

Home organisation

Sistema has expanded into broader household organisation, offering products for pantries, refrigerators, freezers, kitchen cupboards, and general storage, reflecting its evolution from a food container company into a comprehensive home-organisation brand.

• KLIP IT™: The range most strongly associated with Sistema, featuring easy-locking clips, flexible seals, and modular stackable shapes for efficient storage.12
• KLIP IT PLUS™: An evolution of the KLIP IT concept with stackable and nestable containers.
• BAKE IT™: Designed for baking ingredients and kitchen storage.
• FRESHWORKS™: A range designed to help store fresh produce.
• BRILLIANCE™: A premium-looking clear food-storage range emphasising visibility and leak resistance.
• ULTRA™: A high-clarity storage range using TRITAN™ material in certain products.
• MICROWAVE™: Products specifically intended for microwave cooking and reheating.
• TO GO™: Portable food-storage products for meals and snacks outside the home.
• NEST IT™: Containers designed to stack when in use and nest together when empty to reduce storage space.

Availability of specific ranges varies by country.

Sistema’s design philosophy is based on organisation and modularity. Instead of producing unrelated individual objects, the company designs many products as integrated systems. Compatible dimensions allow different sizes to stack vertically, fit efficiently next to one another, nest when empty, and optimise refrigerator and pantry space.13 This systematic approach makes Sistema containers recognisable for their geometric, modular, and organisational design language rather than merely as plastic boxes.

Sistema emphasises the use of food-safe materials. The company states that its food-storage containers manufactured in New Zealand use high-quality materials and are BPA- and phthalate-free.14 Individual products have varying specifications; for instance, some KLIP IT containers are freezer-safe, top-rack dishwasher-safe, and microwave-safe without the lid, but users should always follow the specific care instructions for each product.20

Sustainability is a key component of Sistema’s corporate positioning. The company promotes reusability under the tagline “Always Reuseful” and uses post-industrial material in some products to reduce manufacturing waste.14 Sistema has also committed to achieving zero net carbon by 205018 and participates in New Zealand’s Toitū carbon-reduction certification programme.6 Its strategy encompasses reusable products, waste reduction, energy management, efficient manufacturing, and long-term decarbonisation goals.

Sistema products are used in more than 110 countries.15 The brand has a significant presence in New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Europe, utilising distributors and regional operations to reach international markets.6

• New Zealand manufacturing: “Made in New Zealand” remains a core part of the brand’s identity and story.
• Practicality: Products prioritise functional everyday utility over purely decorative design.
• Modularity: Stackable and nestable designs are a primary signature.
• Reusability: Containers and bottles are positioned as alternatives to disposable storage.
• Distinctive clips: Coloured locking clips serve as a key visual identifier.
• Transparency: Many products use transparent or translucent plastic for easy content identification.

Sistema places considerable importance on intellectual property, holding trademarks for SISTEMA®, KLIP IT®, KLIP IT +®, KLIP IT TO GO®, BAKE IT®, SNACK ATTACK®, and ALWAYS REUSEFUL®. The company also pursues patent, design, and copyright protection, ensuring its competitive identity relies on recognisable product designs and closure systems rather than generic plastic containers.3

Sistema operates under Newell Brands, which completed its acquisition in April 2017.19 The structure comprises Sistema® as the consumer-facing brand, Sistema Plastics as the New Zealand manufacturing entity, and Newell Brands as the corporate parent.

Sistema occupies a position between commodity plastic storage and premium kitchen-organisation brands, competing on functionality, durability, organisation, design, and reusability. Its proposition is that well-designed storage systems facilitate everyday tasks like meal preparation and pantry organisation. The brand is notable as a New Zealand manufacturing success story that transitioned from a small garage operation to a globally distributed business while maintaining substantial local production.16 This evolution illustrates the broader transformation of New Zealand manufacturing into globally oriented niche consumer-product businesses.17

1. Sistema
2. About Us | Sistema UK
3. An Entrepreneur’s Journey to Protect IP: Sistema Plastics – International Trademark Association
4. Sistema® Plastics: Lunch Boxes | Kitchen Storage Containers | Sistema
5. Money Talks – Sistema founder Brendan Lindsay ‘I couldn’t afford to buy a beer’ – NZ Herald
6. Sistema Plastics | Certification Overview
7. 1L Rectangle | Sistema US
8. The Sistema® KLIP IT™ range is versatile, stackable,
9. 3L Rectangle | Sistema US
10. Sistema® – Storage to Suit Your Lifestyle
11. SISTEMA PLASTICS LIMITED NZBN:9429039605900 – New Zealand Business Directory
12. Sistema KLIP IT Food Storage Containers | 1 L | Stackable Food Prep Container with Airtight Lids | BPA-Free | Colourful Clips | 3 Count [81613-T] | North America – Content Central
13. Company:Sistema Plastics – HandWiki
14. Lunch with… Sistema founder Sir Brendan Lindsay, the plastic-fantastic boss and rich-lister now helping other people click – NZ Herald
15. Sistema KLIP IT Food Storage Container | 5 L | Airtight & Stackable Meal Prep Container with Lid | School Lunch Box | BPA-Free | 1 Count : Amazon.ie: Home & Kitchen
16. Engineering:Sistema Plastics – HandWiki
17. Going Green with Sistema Plastics
18. Sistema Plastics Commits to Reducing Its Carbon Footprint | Newell Brands
19. Newell Brands Finalizes Sistema Acquisition and Announces Progress on Strategic Divestitures | Newell Brands
20. Sistema KLIP IT™ Use and Care Guide for Food Storage Containers