What specific steps is Tetra Pak taking to increase the use of renewable materials, such as paperboard from responsibly managed forests?
Tetra Pak is committed to sustainable sourcing. While the company does not own or manage any forests, we apply our responsible sourcing practices to protect biodiversity and promote sustainable land management. We rely on a platform of voluntary certification standards, such as the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®), helping us ensure that the products we source have been produced according to environmental and social requirements. All our packaging material factories are supplied with paperboard from 100% FSC®-certified forests and other controlled sources.
Our cartons are made up of approximately 70% paperboard, which is a renewable resource, when responsibly sourced. Renewable resources such as this can also be replenished over time, while bearing a lower carbon footprint and reduced environmental impact. *
Additionally, we offer plant-based polymers traceable to their sugarcane origins in place of traditional fossil-fuel based polymers. These plant-based polymers perform just like traditional polymers, including their food protection qualities and recyclability, but generally have a lower carbon footprint.
Even for non-renewable materials, such as the thin aluminum layer that protects food from oxygen and light allowing shelf stability without refrigeration in our aseptic cartons, we implement a rigorous vetting process to ensure those suppliers meet our specifications and contribute to our sustainability goals. This responsible approach to sourcing helps us maximize the renewable content in our packages while maintaining high standards of quality and safety.
How does Tetra Pak plan to improve recycling rates of its packaging products, given the consumer confusion around recycling?
Access to carton recycling is widely available in a number of regions, including the majority of the United States and Canada, so improving recycling rates is a significant focus for Tetra Pak. We invest around 40 million euros annually specifically towards our ambition to drive the collection and recycling of carton packaging worldwide.
Externally, we engage with the recycling infrastructure globally. We collaborate with food & beverage brands, retailers, recyclers and collection systems, both formal and informal, to scale up collection and recycling of beverage cartons. While we are not recyclers ourselves, we play a crucial role in promoting recycling through funding, intelligence, and resource allocation. This dual approach ensures we continuously improve our recycling efforts and support the broader recycling ecosystem.
Internally, we are committed to making our packages even more widely recyclable by researching and developing packages made with a simplified material structure and increased renewable content. This involves a careful balance to ensure food safety is not compromised. To support package innovation, in 2021 Tetra Pak committed to invest 100 million euros annually for the following five to ten years to develop more sustainable packaging solutions.
What are Tetra Pak's current targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and how close are you to achieving them?
Tetra Pak aims to work together with its suppliers, customers and other stakeholders to achieve net-zero GHG emissions across the value chain (Scopes 1, 2 and 3) by 2050 (compared to 2019 baseline), with an interim target goal of net zero in our own operations by 2030.
In 2022, our plan to reach net-zero emissions across the value chain by 2050 was approved by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) under its Corporate Net-Zero Standard. For us, this means a 46% reduction of absolute Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and a 90% reduction by 2050.
Achieving these ambitious goals requires collaborative efforts with our suppliers and customers. A few examples include working with suppliers to reduce emissions in their operations and assisting customers in becoming more efficient, thus reducing waste and energy usage. Internally, we have committed to sourcing 100% of our energy from renewable sources by 2030 and are currently at 89% worldwide. We are also exploring carbon sequestration projects to bridge any gaps and ensure we meet our net zero targets.
I’m proud to share that we are on track to meet our target of net-zero emissions in our own operations by 2030. In fact, we’ve already achieved a 47% reduction in scope 1, 2 and business travel since 2019. Further, using 2019 as a baseline, we’ve reduced value chain emissions by 20%.
How do you see technological advancements affecting the packaging industry's approach to sustainability?
Technological advancements present significant opportunities for improving sustainability in packaging.
In 2021, Tetra Pak committed to invest 100 million euros annually for the following five to ten years to develop more sustainable packaging solutions. With this investment, we are looking at innovations that enhance our packages’ sustainability and functionality.
For instance, our aseptic carton currently uses an aluminum layer as a barrier to protect against light and oxygen to ensure shelf stability. We are working to improve the environmental profile of aluminum and exploring barriers with a lower carbon footprint – such as the paper-based barrier that we introduced last year in Europe. By replacing the aluminum layer in our Tetra Brik® Aseptic 200 Slim Leaf carton with a paper-based barrier, while maximizing the plant-based content of the package, we can reduce its carbon footprint by one third (33%).
However, any new technology must still meet the primary function of protecting the product inside. This balance between advancing technology and ensuring product integrity is crucial. We are optimistic that technological innovations will continue to support our sustainability goals while maintaining the essential functions of packaging.
How does Tetra Pak monitor and verify compliance with sustainability standards, such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)?
We rely on third-party certifications to ensure compliance with sustainability standards. Certifications like SEDEX, EcoVadis, and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) are integral to our governance framework. Our internal audits supplement these certifications, ensuring that our suppliers and processes meet our high standards.
Governance is critical to us, and we strive to ensure that our sustainability claims are credible and verifiable. For example, our greenhouse gas reduction targets are vetted by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). This rigorous approach helps us maintain transparency and accountability in our sustainability efforts.
What initiatives does Tetra Pak have in place to promote social sustainability within the communities you operate in?
Tetra Pak is committed to social sustainability through various initiatives. We support informal collection sectors by providing better equipment and resources to improve their operations. Additionally, our school feeding programs aim to make nutritious food, such as dairy, more accessible to children worldwide. These programs are detailed in our sustainability report, reflecting our broader commitment to social responsibility.
We recognize the importance of supporting communities and enhancing their quality of life. Through these initiatives, we contribute to social development and ensure that our operations positively impact the communities where we operate. Our focus on social sustainability is integral to our purpose: We commit to making food safe and available, everywhere and we promise to protect what’s good: food, people and the planet.
What message would you convey about the importance of packaging in delivering food and beverages safely and sustainably?
While food and beverage packaging often faces criticism, it is necessary for preventing food waste and maintaining food safety.
First, food and beverage packaging plays a crucial role in feeding the world’s growing population. It’s estimated that by 2050, the global population will increase by over 25% from its 2020 level. By maintaining food quality and safety for longer periods of time, packaging helps nutritious products reach people across greater, and even remote, geographic regions.
Food and beverage packaging also contributes to reducing food waste. Tetra Pak’s shelf-stable carton packaging allows food and beverages, including dairy, to be stored unopened at room temperatures for long periods of time without the need for additives, preservatives or refrigeration, resulting in less spoilage and food waste.
Food waste is an environmental issue as much as it is a humanitarian issue. Today, nearly 1/3 of all food is lost or wasted. At the same time, about 10% of the global population is hungry. And food waste accounts for 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Packaging plays a crucial role in delivering food and beverages safely and securely across the globe. It ensures that products remain tasting good and protected, providing essential nutrition to people in distant places.
The packaging industry is committed to improving the sustainability of our portfolios. However, changes must be balanced to avoid creating new issues, such as increased food waste and reduced food access.
Packaging providers aim to minimize their environmental impact while continuing to fulfill their essential role in the food supply chain. It is important to understand these trade-offs and the efforts being made to enhance sustainability in food and beverage packaging.
