Tetra Pak sets sights on circularity and sustainability

Tetra Pak has expanded its packaging solutions using certified recycled polymers to cover new formats, product categories and geographies. The expansion is a milestone in the company’s journey to circularity, turning waste into resources and reducing the industry’s dependence on virgin, fossil-based materials. It aligns with the European Commission’s proposal for the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.

As the industry aims to support the EU Green Deal’s goals on climate, circularity and resilient food systems, beverage cartons with certified recycled polymers are now on supermarket shelves around Europe:

• Emmi, one of Switzerland’s leaders in dairy, recently introduced a carton using certified recycled polymers in the packaging material. Its good day Milk Drink, packaged in Tetra Top 1000 Base carton packages, has been on-shelf since late 2022.
• In February 2023, Lactalis Group revamped its organic ambient liquid cream in Tetra Brik Aseptic cartons under its Bridélice and Président brands with certified recycled polymers in the packaging material.

These solutions join Elvir, a subsidiary of Savencia Fromage & Dairy, which was one of the first to introduce a cap for beverage cartons made from certified recycled polymers for its Elle & Vire brand in 2022.

Ola Elmqvist, Executive Vice President Packaging Solutions, Tetra Pak, said that the company wishes to go further in its sustainability and continuously reduce reliance on virgin, fossil-based sources.

“Actions like these signify our response to stakeholder expectations, from food and beverage manufacturers to consumers and policy makers. We also see this contributing well to the ambitions of the European Commission’s PPWR proposal as well as the intent of the whole industry to accelerate sustainable innovations towards increased access to safe nutrition,” Elmqvist said.