Tetra Pak has won the Product Footprinting Award at the Carbon Trust’s annual Corporate Sustainability Summit, in recognition of its role in reducing the carbon impact of its customers’ packaging.
The manufacturer achieved a 21 per cent reduction in the carbon footprint of its Tetra Brik and Tetra Prisma cartons by switching to a partially plant-based material. According to Charles Brand, president of Tetra Pak Europe and Central Asia, the move is part of Tetra Pak’s goal of shifting to low-carbon solutions and a circular economy.
“We are committed to helping our customers minimise the environmental impacts of their packaging choices and we are thrilled this is being recognised through our award from Carbon Trust.
“Our cartons are made predominantly from plant-based materials such as paperboard and plant-based polymers, which have a significantly lower carbon impact than alternative packaging options such as most bottles or cans. Plant-based materials can be replenished over time and, when grown and managed responsibly, positively contribute to reduced climate impact,” he said.
Tetra Pak has collaborated for several years with Carbon Trust, including on an online CO2 calculator that helps users make informed packaging choices based on carbon impact.
“It is vital that businesses take the lead in supporting communities to make a positive impact on our planet and give them the tools to help solve some of our greatest environmental challenges,” said Brand.
It also now has the option to use the Carbon Trust’s Reducing CO2 Packaging label on its products, and Hugh Jones, managing director, advisory at the Carbon Trust, says his organisation is delighted to work with Tetra Pak and present it with the award.
“Not only has it delivered a significant reduction in the carbon footprint of its Tetra Brik and Tetra Prisma packaging, it has also created an important tool to support customers to make more informed purchasing choices through its online carbon calculator.
“We have worked with Tetra Pak for a number of years as they have taken increasingly progressive steps in climate leadership, and we are delighted that they will be carrying the Carbon Trust ‘Reducing CO2 Packaging’ label on pack to communicate the sustainability of new ranges,” he said.
Tetra Pak introduced plant-based caps in 2012, and the first fully-renewable beverage carton two years later.
