Tetra Pak offers sustainable sugarcane packaging

According to the company press statement, Tetra Pak, together with its supplier Braskem, has become the first company in the food and beverage industry to responsibly source plant-based polymers using the Bonsucro standards for sustainable sugar cane. This move is yet another reinforcement of the company’s commitment to driving ethical and responsible business practices across global supply chains while lowering the carbon footprint of its packaging.

“We’ve seen a growing trend of consumers wanting to do more for the planet, and they look to brands to help. Today 91% of consumers look for environmental logos when shopping. Bonsucro Chain of Custody Certification can be used to communicate credible information to consumers. This will help our customers differentiate their products,” said Mario Abreu, vice president – Sustainability at Tetra Pak. “Our plant-based polymers are fully traceable to their sugarcane origin. We see plant-based materials as playing a key role in achieving a low-carbon circular economy. In the future, all polymers we use will be either made from plant-based materials or post-consumption recycled food grades.”

The announcement forms part of Tetra Pak’s recently launched Planet Positive initiative. This announcement urges industry stakeholders to take a broader view of sustainability, evolving the concept of the circular economy to a low-carbon circular economy, where we go beyond recycling and reuse to include the carbon impact of raw materials and manufacturing. The use of plant-based materials such as paper and polymers significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, supporting economic growth that is decoupled from fossil, finite sources. The plant-based polymers used in some Tetra Pak cartons, like their closures, are produced from sugarcane. Plant-based polymer supplier Braskem has now reached 100% Bonsucro certified volumes of sugarcane derived bioethanol for Tetra Pak’s plant-based solutions, establishing full supply chain transparency.

Gustavo Sergi, unit leader – Renewable Business at Braskem, said, “We have been working with Tetra Pak for more than ten years. Bonsucro Chain of Custody reinforces the responsible ethanol sourcing program from Braskem with the assurance and traceability of the entire sugarcane value chain, all the way back to growers and mills.”

Danielle Morley, chief executive officer of Bonsucro said, “Bonsucro offers a global platform for collective action to accelerate sustainability in the production and processing of sugarcane. Working with Tetra Pak to achieve third-party certification and product labeling of their sugarcane-derived packaging is a milestone. We assure our customers about our rigorous sustainability standard. We are very excited to continue to support responsible sourcing at Tetra Pak and for the contribution that certified sustainable sugarcane can make to plant-based packaging.”

Tetra Pak remains committed to sustainable sourcing and forging closer ties with organizations that drive this type of positive change, such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Since 2007 Tetra Pak has delivered more than 500 billion FSC labeled packages.

The company is committed to developing a package that contributes to a low-carbon circular economy – that is a package made entirely from plant-based or recycled materials, fully recyclable, without ever compromising on food safety. The Bonsucro certified labels will be available to place on packaging from Q1 2020.