Tetra Pak commits to net zero emissions
14/07/2020: Tetra Pak has announced its commitment to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its own operations by 2030, with the ambition to achieve net-zero GHG emissions for the entire value chain by 2050. The company also says that it will set emissions reduction targets in line with 1.5°C according to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) across scopes 1, 2, and 3.
Tetra Pak plans to focus on four key areas in order to reach its emissions targets. It hopes to lower energy-related emissions through energy conservation, improvements in energy efficiency, installing on-site solar photovoltaics (solar PV) and purchasing renewable energy. A member of the RE100 initiative, Tetra Pak has reportedly gone from 20% use of renewable electricity in 2014 to 69% in 2019, and it claims to be on track to achieve its 2020 target of 80%.
Partnering with suppliers and other stakeholders along the value chain is also on the agenda, with the company having reportedly already started work with suppliers to cut upstream carbon emissions.
Tetra Pak is also seeking to accelerate the development of what it describes as its “low-carbon circular packaging and equipment portfolio”, in order to realise its ambition of a fully recyclable package made solely from renewable or recycled materials.
The last area of focus is the development of sustainable recycling value chains, via collaboration with customers, waste management companies, recyclers, municipalities, industry associations, and equipment suppliers.
Lars Holmquist, executive vice president of packaging solutions and commercial operations at Tetra Pak, commented: “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.
“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.”