Tetra Pak achieves milestone towards goal of 100% renewable packaging
Nestlé Brazil to launch milk in Tetra Pak packages with caps using green polyethylene
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (29 July 2011) –Tetra Pak today achieves a significant milestone towards its goal of producing 100% renewable packaging with Nestle Brazil’s launch of two popular milks brands in carton packaging featuring caps made with green polyethylene (PE). (See joint release with Nestlé and Braskem.)
The first ever use of plant-based polyethylene in carton packaging further strengthens Tetra Pak’s renewability credentials, nudging still higher the average 73% of renewable material used to manufacture the company’s broad portfolio. Over time, as the company increasingly adopts plant-based plastics, it expects to be able to offer a carton range that is 100% renewable.
The green polyethylene has been developed by Braskem, Brazil’s largest petrochemical company, and is made out of sugar cane derivatives, which are polymerized in plastics for cap production.
“This is a key step in our renewability journey,” said Tetra Pak President and CEO Dennis Jönsson. “Our cartons already have an excellent renewable material profile; now, with the introduction of caps using green polyethylene and our commitment to extend its use to other plastic components, the concept of a 100% renewable carton is becoming a reality.”
Tetra Pak has a long history of responsible environmental practices and recently announced an ambitious environmental programme designed to deliver on the company’s ultimate aim of providing sustainable packaging using only renewable materials, achieving a minimal environmental footprint and creating zero waste. Currently, all the paper used for the production of cartons in Brazil comes from forests managed in accordance with the responsible forestry management principles, certified by FSC™ (Forest Stewardship Council™).
For complete details on the company’s environmental and social policy and actions, visit Tetra Pak’s Sustainability update website www.tetrapak.com/su2011.
ABOUT TETRA PAK
Tetra Pak is the world's leading food processing and packaging solutions company. Working closely with our customers and suppliers, we provide safe, innovative and environmentally sound products that each day meet the needs of hundreds of millions of people in more than 170 countries around the world. With almost 22,000 employees based in over 85 countries, we believe in responsible industry leadership and a sustainable approach to business. Our motto, “PROTECTS WHAT’S GOOD™," reflects our vision to make food safe and available, everywhere. More information about Tetra Pak is available at www.tetrapak.com
ABOUT FORESTRY STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL™ (FSC™)
With a presence in 50 countries, strong methodology and multi-stakeholder support, FSC is currently the certification programme that best meets criteria for sustainable forestry management on a global scale. Tetra Pak is a member of the Board of Directors. www.fsc.org
The FSC license code for Tetra Pak is FSC-C014047
For more information please contact:
Linda Bernier, Tetra Pak, Cell: +39 348 145 4229
Dominique King, Tel: +44 (0)7706 447 557