Helping to protect forests by responsibly sourcing1 paperboard

On average, the paperboard content of our beverage cartons is more than 70% which is a renewable material when sourced responsibly. The paperboard we use comes from FSC™ certified forests and other controlled sources for the sustainable use of forest resources.

Why responsibly sourced paperboard matters for a sustainable forestry

Using less plastic and more paperboard alone is not enough to lower carbon emissions in line with the 1.5-degree target. Global reliance on wood-based materials can increase the risk of forest degradation and deforestation. Deforestation is a key driver of nature loss, which is why we are committed to sourcing only from sustainably managed and deforestation-free areas1 by using Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™).

For the manufacturing of carton packaging, we purchase solely a speciality paperboard product called Liquid Packaging Board (LPB). LPB accounts for over 97% of our global purchase of wood and wood-based materials (others include wooden pallets, machine crates and office papers) and is one of the highest-demanding specifications in papermaking.

Renewability credentials for paperboard

Package with FSC logo

Using paperboard from responsibly managed and sustainable forests

All our paperboard comes from wood from forests certified to Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™)2 and other controlled sources. We currently use an FSC Mix label for our paperboard that allows for a mixture of materials from FSC-Forest Management certified forests (at least 70%) and or FSC-controlled wood3. While controlled wood is not sourced from FSC™-certified forests, it mitigates the risk of the material originating from unacceptable sources.

Tracing the path to responsibility
We maintain full traceability down to the processing facilities that produce the paperboard. All of our suppliers and facilities maintain FSC™ Chain of Custody (CoC) certification to guarantee that the paperboard in our packages comes from FSC™-certified forests and other controlled sources. To contribute to sustainable forestry, our suppliers are required to report annually on the tree species, certification status, and country and area of origin of the wood fibre in the paperboard supplied to us.

Proudly on the CDP’s Forests A List

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) is a not-for-profit charity that runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts.

Tetra Pak has been recognised for leadership in corporate transparency and performance on forests by global environmental non-profit CDP, securing a place on its annual ‘A List’.

Based on data reported through CDP’s 2023 Forests questionnaires, Tetra Pak is among the 2% of companies that achieved an ‘A’ score out of over 21,000 companies assessed. The company also reported on Climate Change and, for the first time, Water Security. Having recorded an ‘A-‘ score on both cemented Tetra Pak's inclusion in the CDP leadership band once again, as the only company in the carton packaging sector to do so.

Our strategic ambitions and 2030 targets for paperboard


• Wood fibre in the carton shall not originate from areas with deforestation after 31 December 2020.4
• We shall continue to deliver all carton packaging as certified with a credible third-party certification and labelled accordingly.


• All the wood fibre in our cartons shall come from forests independently certified with a credible third-party certification5 as managed under the principles of sustainable forest management.
• We shall ensure full traceability of the wood fibre contained in the carton.6

Further explore our responsibly sourced materials

Package with a tethered caps from polymers

Polymers

Our paper-based carton packages come with plant based polymer layers, caps, closures and straws. When responsibly sourced, plant-based polymers are a renewable material.

close-up of an aluminum roll

Aluminium

Aluminium foil layer thinner than human hair prevents oxidation and light damage, helping to reduce food waste by extending the shelf-life of food without refrigeration.

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1Sourcing wood fibre from responsibly managed forests is our way of doing business. It is our way to ensure biodiversity, ecosystem functions and high conservation values (see definition in Section 6) are maintained, and that human rights are respected.

2The FSC license code for Tetra Pak is FSC™ C014047.

3Controlled sources are FSC controlled wood. This wood originates from low-risk sources that exclude illegally harvested wood, wood harvested in violation of traditional and human rights, wood harvested in forests in which high conservation values are threatened by management activities, wood harvested in forests being converted to plantations or non-forest use and wood from forests in which genetically modified trees are planted. Controlled wood can make up a maximum of 30% of FSC MIX certified wood fibre. More information: https://fsc.org/en/fsc-mix-label-and-controlled-wood

4The deforestation cut-off date 31 Dec 2020 has been updated to match the updated FSC Remedy and Restoration framework, as well as EU regulation on deforestation-free products. Deforestation-free areas are areas where there has been no loss of natural forest as a result of: i) conversion to agriculture or other non-forest land use; ii) conversion to a tree plantation; or iii) severe and sustained degradation.

5We define credible certification schemes as those that are members of ISEAL and compliant with ISEAL Code of Good Practice.

6Defined as at a minimum traceable to the level of primary processor (e.g., to a LPB mill), but preferably to the forest management unit, in line with coming regulatory requirements. Generally speaking, the concept of traceability refers to the tracking of a product throughout its production, processing and distribution phases, from the procurement of the raw materials for its manufacture until it reaches the end consumer.