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Daily CSR

Daily CSR
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Tetra Pak co-invests €11.5 million to create 4 new recycling solutions



06/21/2022

Tetra Pak is collaborating with recyclers and industry players and has co-invested more than €11.5 million to set up 4 new recycling solutions which, once they become operational, will process up to 45,000 tonnes of used carton packages.


Once Tetra Pak’s new recycling solutions become fully operational in Australia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Ukraine. The new recycling solutions are expected to recycle up to 45,000 tons of post-consumer carton packages; in packaging term, this is more than 1.4 billion pack units.
In just four months, the company has co-invested more than €11.5 million with industry players and recyclers to set up 4 new recycling solutions for recycling carton packages in Australia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Tetra Pak’s co-investment has resulted in a ramp up of recycling capacity from the ground up vide cross-border cooperation in Saudi Arabia, expansion of recycling capacity by 50% in Turkey, tripling the production capacity of PolyAl elements in cartons' in Ukraine and leveraging a public/private partnership in Australia.

All 4 projects share a single common trait: enabling the recycling of all components of used carton packaging, resulting in giving the materials a new lease of life.

Once they become fully operational, these new recycling solutions will be able to process up to an additional 45,000 tons of used carton packages per year, resulting in recycling of global carton package in excess of 50 billion a year.

This translates to a significant jump in recycling capacity in the respective countries.

“Carton packages are recycled across the globe, where efficient waste management and recycling infrastructures are in place. Accelerating this requires all stakeholders to play an active role, including governments, local authorities, producers and consumers. Sustainability is one of the top three priorities for our customers3, and these new facilities will help contribute towards meeting their goals,” said Tatiana Liceti, EVP for Market Operations at Tetra Pak.

Working in collaboration with industry partners to advance recycling solutions to realize a circular economy has always been a core component in Tetra Pak’s sustainability strategy. Its pioneering partnerships and investments over the last decade have helped create more than 170 recycling operations across the globe bringing about a significant change in the pace of global package recycling solutions.

As indicated in the latest Tetra Pak Index, there is likely to be a 50% jump in consumers who will recycle their Tetra Packs as part of their personal contribution to mitigating the effects of climate change.

When asked as to who should find solutions to environmental and waste issues, consumers ranked packaging companies third, behind food and beverage companies.

The conditions for meeting this rising demand includes:
  • Distinct sorting of waste
  • Convenient access to collection infrastructure
  • Recycling capacity
Heightened awareness amongst consumers underscore a shift towards recycling among consumers and highlights the importance of having industrial solutions that supports a shift in recycling habits.

“With more time being spent at home due to COVID-19 restrictions, the household waste ‘footprint’ is more visible. In a bid to address this, consumers are adapting their daily routines, and taking greater action. We are helping them on this journey by raising awareness on how they can actively help recycle, while co-investing in expanding recycling capacity and developing innovative technologies, so that post-consumer carton packages can be reintroduced into the economy,” said Lars Holmquist, EVP for Sustainability and Communications at Tetra Pak.

He went on to add, “All this, in collaboration with food manufacturers, municipalities and recyclers across the entire recycling value chain. These new investments are a testament to the joint drive needed to realise our ultimate ambition - a world where all carton packages are collected, recycled and never become litter.”