Tetra Pak, a Swiss-Swedish multinational food packaging and processing company, has announced its recent recycling initiatives in anticipation of Earth Day on 22nd April. The company has invested in building collection and recycling infrastructure across the world, increasing the number of recycling operations handling cartons from 40 in 2010 to over 200 today. This is in line with Tetra Pak’s goals to support a circular economy and reduce waste. Despite the critical role of food packaging in feeding the global population, it can contribute to environmental issues if not collected and recycled properly. The World Bank estimates that global waste will increase by 70% by 2050 unless significant action is taken.

Tetra Pak’s collaborations aim to increase recycling capacity, boost collection rates, and ensure that post-consumer beverage carton materials can re-enter the economy. The company has committed nearly €30 million in projects worldwide in 2022 and plans to invest up to €40 million annually in the future, with the goal of increasing collection and recycling rates for beverage cartons. Tetra Pak supports the industry’s ambition to achieve a 90% collection for recycling rate and a 70% recycling rate for beverage cartons in the European Union by 2030, as part of the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment.

Markus Pfanner, Vice President of Sustainability Operations at Tetra Pak, highlights the need for a system-wide approach to building a circular economy, supported by a regulatory framework that transforms challenges into opportunities. Tetra Pak estimates that 1.2 million tonnes of beverage cartons were collected and sent for recycling globally in 2021, but long-lasting change can only occur through collective action, transformational innovation, and bold investments.

Link to the news source