SWITZERLAND – Tetra Pak has reaffirmed its commitment in driving the sustainability transformation and announced a new goal to reach net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its own operations by 2030.
The packaging solutions provider to the food and beverage industry has further unveiled its ambition to achieve net zero GHG emissions for the entire value chain by 2050 while setting emissions reduction targets in line with 1.5°C according to the Science Based Targets (SBT) initiative across scopes 1, 2 and 3.
Lars Holmquist, Executive Vice President Packaging Solutions and Commercial Operations at Tetra Pak said that the new goals will build on the company’s nearly 20 years track record in driving sustainability transformation.
“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,” said Lars.
“More recently, we joined the European Alliance for Green Recovery, the first pan-European call for mobilisation 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.”
Tetra Pak said in a statement that the company will focus on four key areas to reach net zero GHG emissions across its own operations by 2030, and to realise its 2050 ambition along the entire value chain.
Among them, the solutions provider has committed to lowering 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 revealed that it has invested over €16 million in energy efficiency, preventing energy use from increasing by 23% 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.
Tetra Pak, which is a member of the RE100 initiative, disclosed that it has gone from 20% use of renewable electricity in 2014 to 69% in 2019, and it is on track to achieve its 2020 target of 80%.
To realise its new goals, the Swiss firm added that it will be partnering with suppliers and other stakeholders along the value chain to significantly reduce carbon footprint.
The company has also committed to accelerating the development of its low carbon circular packaging and equipment portfolio and working to help customers achieve their emission reduction targets.
Tetra Pak says that a step change in investment levels in sustainable innovation is helping the company to realise 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.
The packaging company added that it will also be developing sustainable recycling value chains, through collaboration with customers, waste management companies, recyclers, municipalities, industry associations and equipment suppliers.
This is expected to strengthen the company’s vision of ensuring that all beverage cartons are collected for recycling, and zero beverage cartons become litter or are sent to landfill.
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