Tetra Pak is planning to invest at least €500 million (Sh69.4 billion) across its markets in the next five years towards research on sustainable packaging materials.
The company in its sustainability report says that the investment of a €100 million (Sh13.9billion) last year saw the amount of carton packages collected and sent for recycling across the world rose by 7 percent compared to 2022.
The report that majorly focuses on five interdependent areas, food systems, circularity, climate, nature and social sustainability notes that that there was a 14 per cent increase in the volume of polyAl sent for recycling.
Tetra Pak President & CEO, Adolfo Orive, said that the investments put Tetra Pak on track to meet its target of net zero GHG emissions in its own operations by 2030.
“In 2023, we accelerated towards our goal of sourcing 100 per cent renewable electricity across our operations, reaching 89 per cent. We increased investment in countries that face challenges in sourcing renewable energy, and have high CO2 emissions in their power grids, such as in Japan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan,” said Orive.
The company’s Sustainability Report FY23 shows a 20 per cent reduction in value chain GHG emissions and a 47 per cent reduction in GHG emissions across its own operations since 2019.
Another major milestone saw the launch of an aseptic beverage carton featuring a paper-based barrier, reducing its carbon footprint by a third (33 per cent) and bringing the company a step closer to developing the world’s most sustainable food package.
This world-first was a result of a €100 million (Sh13.9b) investment in packaging research and development in 2023, with the same investment planned annually for the next five to ten years.
“Collaboration across the food industry is ever more important to feed a growing population sustainably. Our global presence and end-to-end solutions give us opportunities every day to collaborate with stakeholders across the value chain, from farmers and food producers, to suppliers, policy makers, consumers and others,” said Orive.
