Tetra Pak targets 2030 net-zero GHG emissions with four-pronged approach

11 Jun 2020 --- Tetra Pak has committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its operations by 2030 and net-zero GHG emissions for the entire value chain by 2050. The Tetra Laval multinational food packaging and processing sub-company will also set emissions reduction targets in line with 1.5°C according to the Science Based Targets (SBT) initiative across scopes 1, 2 and 3. Tetra Pak will focus on four key areas to reach its GHG emissions targets: lowering energy-related emissions, partnering with stakeholders to reduce carbon footprint, accelerating the development of its low carbon circular packaging and equipment portfolio, and developing environmentally sustainable recycling value chains.

Tetra Pak recalls that it was founded on the idea that a package should save more than it costs, with environmental sustainability at the core of how the company operates as a business. Since 1999, the carton supplier has been collecting data on energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from across the organization on an annual basis, with its GHG accounts audited by an independent third party since 2013.

“We have consistently delivered on our climate goals, right from the first goal set in 2002, again in 2005 and we are on track to meet our 2020 goal. In 2017, we were the first company in the food and beverage industry to have our climate impact reduction targets approved by the SBT initiative,” notes Lars Holmquist, Executive Vice President Packaging Solutions and Commercial Operations at Tetra Pak.

“More recently, we joined the European Alliance for Green Recovery, the first pan-European call for mobilization on post-crisis green investment solutions. Today, we're once again leading the way by setting ambitious net-zero emissions targets that will drive transformation right across our sector and the entire value chain. The planet's greatest environmental challenge demands nothing less from us,” Holmquist adds.

Four-pronged strategy
Tetra Pak will focus on four key areas to reach net-zero GHG emissions across its own operations by 2030 and to realize its 2050 ambition along the entire value chain. 

Firstly, the company aims to lower energy-related emissions through energy conservation, improvements in energy efficiency, installing on-site solar photovoltaics (solar PV) and purchasing renewable energy. Since 2011, Tetra Pak has invested over €16 million in energy efficiency, preventing energy use from increasing by 23 percent over this period. To date the company has installed approximately 2.7 MW of solar PV (or about 8000 panels), delivering low carbon electricity whilst saving operational costs. A member of the RE100 initiative, Tetra Pak has gone from 20 percent use of renewable electricity in 2014 to 69 percent in 2019, and it is on track to achieve its 2020 target of 80 percent. This journey included the installation of solar panels across its operations and the purchasing of renewable certificates, with the company being one of the first to do so in countries including Thailand and South Africa.

Overview of Tetra Pak's value chain GHG emissions outputs.Secondly, Tetra Pak will partner with suppliers and other stakeholders along the value chain to significantly reduce carbon footprint. Tetra Pak is working with suppliers to cut upstream carbon emissions, including setting ambitious renewable energy targets and increasing the use of renewable and recycled materials, which it identifies as critical to making a low carbon circular economy possible.

Thirdly, the company will accelerate the development of its low carbon circular packaging and equipment portfolio and work to help customers achieve their emission reduction targets. A step-change in investment levels in environmental sustainable innovation is helping the company to realize its ambition of a fully recyclable package made solely from renewable or recycled materials as well as to offer processing and packaging lines with minimal carbon footprint.

Fourthly, Tetra Pak will develop sustainable recycling value chains via collaboration with customers, waste management companies, recyclers, municipalities, industry associations and equipment suppliers. Tetra Pak's vision is that all beverage cartons can be collected for recycling.

Lars Holmquist concluded: “Ten years ago we set a climate goal to cap our 2020 impact across the value chain at 2010 levels while growing the business. This helped us save 12 million tons of GHG emissions to date. We believe that our ability to set and demonstrate progress in line with science and societal expectations, our innovation drive and the collaborative approach across the value chain put us all on the right path to achieve our new ambition,” Holmquist concludes.Tetra Rex Plant-based carton package.

Eco-innovation
In May, Tetra Pak joined the European Alliance for a Green Recovery, launched by the European Parliament on April 14, to help build a more environmentally sustainable economy post-COVID-19. The alliance gathers stakeholders to support a green recovery plan that puts the fight against climate change, the protection of biodiversity, and resilient food supply chains at the center of Europe’s economic policy for the next seven years (2021-2027).

Together with 270 other signatories, including political decision-makers, business leaders, financial institutions, trade unions, non-governmental organizations and political think tanks, Tetra Pak aims to gain insights from other relevant stakeholders and contribute to the quick recovery of economies and societies.

As part of the Commission’s recovery plan, a €15 billion reinforcement for the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development has been announced to support rural areas in making the structural changes necessary in line with the European Green Deal and achieving the ambitious targets in line with the new biodiversity and Farm to Fork strategies.

Last year, Tetra Pak became the first company in the food and beverage industry to responsibly source plant-based polymers using the Bonsucro standards for environmentally sustainable sugarcane in cooperation with Braskem. The move addresses rising concerns for the environment and reinforces Tetra Pak’s commitment to driving ethical and responsible business practices across global supply chains while lowering the carbon footprint of its packaging.

In another industry first, Tetra Pak launched a complete processing line for white cheese products in May. The line is equipped with a fully automated and integrated solution to ensure a high standard of food safety and speed to market.

Edited by Joshua Poole