In 2013, the firm focused on developing sustainable products, reducing environmental footprint across the value chain and increasing recycling.

According to Tetra Pak, its use of Forest Stewardship Council-certified paperboard has risen from 38% in 2012 to 41% in 2013. The firm’s ultimate aim is to use 100% FSC-certified paperboard in its products.

The Swedish based firm also said it is aiming to develop a fully renewable package. It said that one major step forward in 2013 was the global release of the bio-based LightCap 30 made from high density polyethylene (HDPE) that derived from sugar cane. Across the portfolio, 1.1 billion packages with such bio-based caps hit the market in 2013, almost doubling the number for 2012, Tetra Pak said.

Elsewhere, Tetra Pak has set a goal to cap climate impact across the value chain at 2010 levels by 2020 while still growing the business. To achieve this, a number of initiatives have been introduced, including the development and audit of an accounting and reporting system in line with the Green House Gas Protocol Corporate Value Chain standard.

Between 2010 and 2013, Tetra Pak explained that it had reduced the climate emissions from its own operations by 2,000 tonnes CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent), while achieving a 12% growth in the number of packages sold.

The packaging giant aims to increase the recycling of used beverage cartons, aiming to double the global recycling rate by 2020 to 40%, focusing on raising consumer awareness, sharing knowledge and expertise, facilitating collection infrastructure and supporting recycling technology development.

In 2013, the global recycling rate of Tetra Pak packages reached 24.5%, with about 43 billion being recycled, 4 billion more than the previous year.

According to the firm, one market that showed great progress in collection infrastructure was the United States, where the consumer access rate to recycling infrastructure grew from 41% to 48% between 2012 and 2013, equating to access for approximately 7.9 million new households.

Tetra Pak Environment vice president Claes Du Rietz said: “Achieving environmental excellence is part of the company’s strategy towards 2020 because we believe it is crucial for the future of the company and our customers.

“We drive environmental performance in every step of our operation, from sourcing, development of processing and packaging systems, to services and support provided to customers. This is the very reason that we have continued to be successful in meeting ambitious targets.”

Liz Gyekye

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