Tetra Pak to cap carbon emissions, further responsible sourcing, increase recycling and pursue sustainable packaging

Tetra Pak today announced that it plans to cap carbon emissions at 2010 levels by the end of 2020 and increase efforts to double the recycling rate for used beverage cartons by the end of the decade.

The 10-year targets are part of an ambitious new environmental programme that is designed to deliver on the company’s ultimate aim of providing sustainable packaging using only renewable materials, achieving a minimal environmental footprint and creating zero waste.

Environmental efficiency has always been at the heart of Tetra Pak’s strategy because it is critical to both business performance and to society as a whole. The ambitious targets announced today reinforce the company’s commitment to deliver solutions that achieve sustainable profitable growth for both Tetra Pak and its customers:

* Climate: Tetra Pak aims to cap carbon emissions at 2010 levels by the end of 2020 while continuing to grow. With an estimated 5 per cent compound annual growth rate achieving this goal would require a 40 per cent relative reduction in CO2 equivalent emissions. This target not only includes Tetra Pak’s operations, but those across the entire value chain, meaning that it will ask suppliers to meet agreed on targets and support customers’ activities to reduce their own emissions.

* By 2020, Tetra Pak is committed to help double the global recycling rate of its used beverage cartons to provide valuable raw materials for a host of new products. With an estimated 5 per cent compound annual growth rate achieving this goal would mean that about 100 billion used beverage cartons are recycled in 2020 alone. This is done through active engagement in the entire recycling value chain; from technology development, efficient collection and sorting schemes and increased consumer awareness.
* Responsible sourcing: Tetra Pak aims to increase the supply of Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™) certified paper board used in its products to 100 per cent, with an interim target to achieve 50 per cent in 2012. Tetra Pak works closely with its suppliers and other stakeholders to increase access to FSC-certified wood fibre. By the end of 2011 alone, the number of Tetra Pak cartons carrying the FSC logo will nearly double from 2010 levels to 16 billion.
* Sustainable products: Tetra Pak aspires to develop packaging material based on 100 per cent renewable materials. Its cartons are already mainly based on paperboard from a renewable resource, wood fibre, and Tetra Pak is taking important steps towards increasing the renewable content. The company has signed an agreement with Brazilian producer of green polyethylene, Braskem, in order to launch caps containing renewable polymers made from sugarcane in 2011..