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Two children giving thumbs up while recycling carton packages at a recycling station

Tetra Pak recycling initiatives

Find out more about our collaborative model and how Tetra Pak is leading the path on a comprehensive approach to recycling across the value chain.

Discover recycling cases
Collection and sorting
Consumer awareness and engagement
Recycling capacity and solutions
Recycled material use

Moving towards a circular economy

Our paper-based carton packages are already recyclable where adequate collection, sorting and recycling infrastructures are in place. In places where collection infrastructure is still being built up, we’re co-investing with recyclers in new equipment and facilities to increase recycling capacity. We collaborate with several stakeholders around the world to create market demand for recycled products – and we design our carton packages to increase the fibre content and use of recycled materials.

Discover new recycling cases

PolyAl recycling in Italy

Circularity gets a boost in Southern Europe

In Italy, our collaboration with the polyAl recyclers Ecorevive and Ecoplasteam draws on our network to promote their products and find new opportunities.

PolyAl granules in Lucart

Lucart Italy expands polyAl recycling

In collaboration with Newpal, Lucart Italy has completed the installation of a polyAl line producing granules used for the production of pallets.

Recycling in Austria and Netherlands

Forward-looking regulation is set to accelerate recycling in Austria and the Netherlands

Both countries saw specific targets for beverage cartons implemented.

PolyAl recycling in Spain

Spain focuses on expanding market demand for polyAl

In Spain, a number of ambitious projects facilitate and accelerate the recycling of polyAI.

Sorting and recycling in China

New automated sorting plant for beverage cartons in operation in China

In Xiamen, China, a first-of-its-kind automatic sorting centre for low-value recyclables has started operation.

New recycling plant for beverage cartons in Egypt

Joining forces with leading paperboard producer to set up a new recycling plant for beverage cartons in Egypt

The plant has the capacity to recycle 8,000 tonnes of carton packages annually.

Recycling in Paraguay

First beverage cartons recycling facility in Paraguay

Fully integrated plant, with fibres recycled into secondary packaging and polyAl into boards and tiles.

Recycling in the US

Recycling infrastructure improvements in Michigan, US

New equipment allows for more carton packages to be processed.

Collection and sorting

People in front of a recycle station in Santo Domingo subway

Eco-recarga con recybot - reverse vending machine

We have installed five reverse vending machines in Santo Domingo’s subway stations. We are hoping to engage consumers in recycling best practices.

People sorting recycled material in facility

Reciclar pelo Brasil - collection and sorting

We’ve joined with Reciclar pelo Brasil to promote and support waste pickers' cooperatives to further develop infrastructure and increase carton recycling.

Woman recycling a carton package in the recycling station

Gira drop off stations - collection and sorting

We improved Ecuador's recycling infrastructure by installing 94 collection stations for different materials, including cartons.

A hand holding a recycling information folder

Red reciclo - collection and sorting

We’ve joined forces with other brands in the Red Reciclo industry coalition to promote the implementation of EPR towards a circular economy.

School girls folding carton packages for recycling

Becare - collection and sorting

We are developing a sustainable carton collection value chain by working with the local government to expand drop-off points while supporting the community.

Stakeholders showcasing the InspirACTion initiative

InspirACTion - collection and sorting

We are engaging children in recycling while educating the importance of waste segregation, expanding collection points and developing polyAl recycling.

Recycling station in front of retail store

Collection points - collection and sorting

We work with retailers across Japan to expand the number of stores accepting both aseptic and chilled carton packages for recycling.

Person holding a poster for collection cabin recycling

Collection cabin - collection and sorting

We are working with local government and partner recycler to expand access to recycling by placing drop-off collection cabins in strategic locations.

People in front of recycling container

Door-to-door - collection and sorting

We support Nestle’s efforts to provide door-to-door collection of recyclables in selected residential areas and encourage consumer participation.

People sorting cartons manually

Sorting pilot project - collection and sorting

We are piloting a project to recover cartons from mixed solid and packaging waste, preventing cartons from ending up in landfills.

Consumer awareness and engagement

Recycling in schools in Japan

Bellmark Program – Consumer awareness and engagement

School milk in Japan has a long tradition. Since the 1950s milk have been part of the lunch to children in schools, helping improve their nutrition.

Bellmark Program – Consumer awareness and engagement⁠

Activity with customers at Catavento

Catavento recycling exhibit - consumer awareness

We partnered with the Catavento museum in São Paulo, Brazil, to create a permanent exhibition on the recyclability of cartons.

Closeup of robotic arm sorting cartons for recycling

Carton Council - consumer awareness

We are founding members of the Carton Council of North America which promotes recycling technology, local collection and awareness.

Children recycling cartons in school with a banner explaining the process

One second of action - consumer awareness

We initiated a competition in schools to promote collection of cartons, teach about recycling and handling packages before recycling.

A recycling station in a shop, and a mobile recycling station on the street

Cartons clean - consumer awareness

We partnered Vitasoy and SSID to promote carton collection in schools with mobile recycling centers and establish a recycling value chain.

Kids holding carton packages and showing thumbs up in front of a carton recycling station.

Kartonkikilpailu - consumer awareness

We promoted and increased carton recycling by engaging school kids in a recycling competition.

Campaign with recycling wall in shopping centre

Recycling wall - consumer awareness

We promoted carton recycling with a panel and collection station in the shopping centers.

Digital school recycling - consumer awareness

We developed a digital school recycling competition to raise awareness on waste reduction. Kids participate by creating art out of used materials.

School children learning about recycling

Zero waste - consumer awareness

We collaborated with the government and an NGO to create face-to-face and digital learning platforms for children on the 5R principals.

Mobile phone showing the Pakzi application for carton recycling

Pakzi mobile app - consumer awareness

We launched Pakzi, a carton recycling mobile app, to educate consumers in Tehran on recycling and collection, and how to separate cartons in their own stream.

Recycling capacity and solutions

Office with panel board from recycled cartons

Morcas - recycling capacity

We support Morcas in their efforts to recycle the entire carton package to produce panel boards and to expand collection infrastructure.

PolyAl equipment line in recycling facility

Fulun - recycling capacity

We collaborated with Fulun to increase carton recycling capacity and upgrade polyAl line – considered locally a model enterprise for circular economy.

Desk with peal board information sheets

SHA Hup Aik - recycling capacity

We are working with SHA Hub Aik to upgrade polyAl facility to improve roof sheet and polyAl board quality as well as expand capability to produce pellets.

Person with laptop showing information about dry polyAl processing

Herbold Meckesheim - recycling capacity

We are are working with Herbold Meckesheim to develop and improve mechanical recycling of polyAl.

Hand with polyAl granule

KMK - recycling capacity

We collaborated with KMK to instal the first polyAl recyling line in Turkey and helping develop end-market, with potential buyers in the plastics industry.

Pallets made from recycled polyAl

STP - recycling capacity

We collaborated with STP and OPI to create a solution for recycling of the entire carton package: STP to recycle polyAl from OPI.

Pile of polyAl pellets

Plastigram - recycling capacity

We worked with Czech recycler Plastigram, which has developed an energy-efficient technology to separate out plastics and polyAl from discarded carton packages.

Recycled material use and applications

Chair made from recycled polyAl

Ecuaplastic - recycled materials and applications

We support Ecuaplastic as they continue to improve the quality and launch value-added products made from recycled polyAl, drawing on waste materials.

Roof made from recycled polyAl materials

PolyAl recycling - Placove

We support Placove’s efforts to recycle polyAl using hot-pressing thermoforming to produce roof tiles and flat sheets, and to expand capacity.

Close up of roof tiles made from recycled polyAl

Eurotecho - recycled materials and applications

We support Eurotecho’s efforts to recycle polyAl using hot-pressing thermoforming to produce roof tiles and flat sheets, and to expand capacity and end-market.

Desk with peal board information sheets

KPT - recycled materials and applications

We support KPT’s efforts to recycle polyAl by using hot-pressing to produce roof sheets and boards.

Closeup of board made from recycled cartons

Save Board - recycled materials and applications

We supported start-up recycler Save Board to transform New Zealand’s used cartons via a full carton recycling process to create construction materials.

Milk crate and hanger made from recycled polyAl

Jushin - recycled materials and applications

We are working with Jushin and SK Global Chemical to develop a polyAl recycling solution to produce agglomerated pellet for making plastic pallets.

PolyAl granules in Lucart

Lucart Italy expands polyAl recycling

In collaboration with Newpal, Lucart Italy has completed the installation of a polyAl line producing granules used for the production of pallets.

PolyAl pelletising line in facility

Gayatri - recycled materials and applications

We support Gayatri’s efforts to expand polyAl recycling and develop new markets and end-uses for the material (e.g., cable reels, energy boxes, truck stoppers).

Roof made from recycled polyAl

Nestle - recycled materials and applications

We are working with Green Earth to provide polyAl pallets and roofing sheets to Nestle Pakistan, closing the loop on the commitment to a circular economy.

Acting for sustainability

Overview of Circularity, Biodiversity, Food and Climate

Moving towards a circular economy

Tackling challenges throughout the food value chain from responsibly sourced renewable raw materials to end of life. Explore our efforts to move towards a circular economy.

Actions towards circularity⁠

School boy with a globe

Moving Food Forward

How do we play our part in building a world with more secure and sustainable food systems?⁵

Overview of Circularity, Biodiversity, Food and Climate

Go nature. Go carton.

Our ambition is to lead the sustainability transformation within our industry. Explore the priorities that guide us in our collaborations for enabling systemic change.

Related links

Our approach to recycling and circularity

Post-consumer recycling