Tetra Pak

Tetra Pak “Design-out waste, design-in circular economy”

Marco Marchetti, Vice President Packaging Materials, Sales and Distribution Solutions, Tetra Pak, shared his incisive thinking with SPN:

“One of today’s biggest issues and one still largely unaddressed is waste. Every year an estimated 11.2 billion tons of waste are collected worldwide. Furthermore, waste mismanagement exacerbates climate change and its negative effects. It is clear that the problem is getting worse. The World Bank projects that by 2050, global waste will have increased by 70% from a 2018 baseline, should we collectively fail to act and continue along a “take-makewaste” linear economy model.

Changing this trajectory will require a shift to a circular economy and we believe that the business world has a huge part to play in this fundamental transition. Therefore, at Tetra Pak, we are focusing on innovations that can design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use and regenerate natural systems.

For example, earlier this year, we became the first carton packaging company to launch a cap using certified recycled polymers. This marked a key step in the industry’s journey to circularity, helping to find an economically sound use for plastic waste and responsibly sourcing raw materials, thereby minimising dependency on virgin, fossil-based resources.

Marco Marchetti

World first

More recently, we worked with leading beverage manufacturers to introduce cartons with tethered caps, which is a world’s first. This paved the way for Europe-based customers to stay ahead of schedule and meet the Single Use Plastics (SUP) Directive coming into force in 2024. This redesign ensures that the cap stays attached to the package and thus litter can be reduced.

“Addressing complex issues such as climate change and circularity requires transformational innovation”

World first

More recently, we worked with leading beverage manufacturers to introduce cartons with tethered caps, which is a world’s first. This paved the way for Europe-based customers to stay ahead of schedule and meet the Single Use Plastics (SUP) Directive coming into force in 2024. This redesign ensures that the cap stays attached to the package and thus litter can be reduced.

Unique fibre-based barrier

We also tested an industry-first, fibre-based barrier to replace the aluminium layer in our aseptic packages. In fact, this layer, despite being critical to keep the contents safe for consumption and thinner than a human hair, contributes to a third of the greenhouse gas emissions linked to the base materials we use. Reducing this impact is a development priority.

Cutting-edge Collaboration

Addressing complex issues such as climate change and circularity requires transformational innovation. This is why we collaborate not just with our customers and suppliers, but also with an ecosystem of start-ups, universities and tech companies, providing us access to cutting-edge competences, technologies and manufacturing facilities.

To keep the innovation engine running, we are investing €100 million per year and will continue to do so over the next 5 to 10 years to further enhance the environmental profile of food cartons.

There is a long journey ahead of us, but with the support of our partners and a strong determination to achieve our sustainability and food safety goals, we are well on our way”.