Tetra Pak says its new recycling initiatives could help turn all components of a used carton package into quality materials and goods.
In the run-up to Earth Day (22 April), Tetra Pak is highlighting some of its recent recycling initiatives that it says are helping to keep valuable materials in use and out of landfills.
The initiatives are part of the investments that the company has been making for “decades” to support collection and recycling infrastructure across the world. Tetra Pak says this has grown the number of recycling operations handling cartons worldwide from 40 in 2010 to more than 200 today.
Tetra Pak says its recent collaborations are focused on creating additional recycling capacity, increasing collection rates and ensuring that materials from post-consumer beverage cartons can re-enter the economy.
We need to move away from a linear ‘take-make-waste’ model towards a more connected circular economy.
Commenting on the announcement, Vice President Sustainability Operations at Tetra Pak, Markus Pfanner, said: “We need to move away from a linear ‘take-make-waste’ model towards a more connected circular economy. But being part of a circular solution can’t be driven singlehandedly by one individual or entity – scientists, policymakers, recyclers and industry players and citizens must work together.”
In 2022, Tetra Pak says it invested nearly €30 million into projects worldwide, with plans to go further and invest up to €40 million annually over the next years, in line with its targets for the collection and recycling of beverage cartons.
As part of the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE), Tetra Pak says it supports the industry ambition to increase the collection for recycling rate of beverage cartons to 90% and the recycling rate to 70%, in the EU, by 2030.
Tetra Pak says its goals also include realising the national recyclability criteria for its packages in all countries where it operates and fulfilling the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Global Commitment.
None of these developments could be realised without our 70 experts around the globe.
Christine Levêque, Vice President Collection and Recycling, Tetra Pak, commented: “Three principles are guiding our circularity agenda: designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.
“These hero initiatives showcase how innovation and a clear drive to change the status quo are key to keep quality materials in circulation and minimise the use of new ones.
“None of these developments could be realised without our 70 experts around the globe, who are collaborating every day with recyclers, local authorities and food and beverage manufacturers to drive the transformation needed to scale up collection and recycling.”
