How we decide what matters most
Tetra Pak is a global business, and – as a result – there are many sustainability issues to address and opportunities to explore. To objectively select the issues that matter most to our stakeholders and to our business, we apply the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) principle of materiality.
We undertake a materiality assessment every two years to ensure that we keep up to date with changing sustainability priorities. We conducted our most recent materiality assessment update in 2019. This involved a three-stage process:
- We identified and prioritised stakeholders upstream across the supply chain, downstream, and within Tetra Pak.
- We identified and prioritised social and environmental topics applicable to the food and processing and packaging industry, taking into account the voices of all stakeholders.
- We applied our own expert trend analysis and forward-looking perspective to map topics against relevance to Tetra Pak and to external stakeholders.
The update identified ten material aspects. These are shown in the matrix below, which shows the aspects according to priority and relevance to Tetra Pak and external stakeholders, and the table below, which identifies where in the value chain they occur.
This matrix visualises the top material aspects according to their relevance to Tetra Pak and external stakeholders, and also their level of priority and timeliness (remain in focus/increased visibility/new and further enhanced aspects).
This table shows the ten material aspects identified in our latest materiality
In addition to our materiality assessments, we use the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a guiding light in the prioritisation of our sustainability efforts.
How we determine our approach
Our sustainability work and focus areas are defined by our Sustainability Forum, which comprises ten senior leaders from across Tetra Pak who represent a wide range of areas of responsibility. Sustainability
is also embedded as a pillar of our Strategy 2030, which will guide our company over the next decade and beyond.
How we double check our approach
Verification and assurance are an essential part of our process. To that end, our practices, processes and performance are verified externally to World-Class Manufacturing standards, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, and Forest Stewardship Council Chain of Custody and Quality Assurance Management certification. Our greenhouse gas emissions data is externally audited. This report follows the materiality approach of the GRI Standards Core guidelines, the most widely adopted international independent framework for sustainability reporting.