Page 30 - Plastics News April 2023

Tetra Pak recycling initiatives, investments keep materials out of landfill
Recent Tetra Pak collaborations have
been focused on creating additional
recycling capacity and increasing col-
lection rates. In February for example,
it co-invested in four facilities across
Europe, the Middle East and Australia.
Last year it invested close to EUR30m
(US$32.81m) on projects worldwide
and stated that it plans to input a fur-
ther EUR40m per year into global
projects. This falls in line with Tetra
Pak’s collection and recycling bever-
age carton targets.
The company’s goals also include re-
alising the national recyclability crite-
ria for packages in all of the countries
ultinational packaging and pro- president of sustainability operations it operates.
Mcessing company Tetra Pak has at Tetra Pak, Markus Pfanner explains Vice president of collection and recy-
announced its most recent recycling that building a circular economy re- cling at Tetra Pak Christine Levêque
initiatives are helping it to deliver a quires system-wide action and coop- said: “Three principles are guiding
sustainable future, in the lead-up to eration, supported by a regulatory our circularity agenda: designing out
Earth Day on 22 April. framework. waste and pollution, keeping products
Tetra Pak says the various recycling The company points out that paper- and materials in use, and regenerating
initiatives it has put in place are help- based beverage cartons are recycla- natural systems. These hero initiatives
ing to keep valuable materials in use ble when there are suitable recycling showcase how innovation and a clear
and out of landfill. The company infrastructures in place and estimates drive to change the status quo are key
states that it has grown a number of that globally 1.2 million tonnes of bev- to keep quality materials in circulation
recycling operations handling cartons erage cartons have been collected and minimise the use of new ones.
worldwide. In fact, it says it has seen and sent for recycling in 2021. “None of these developments could
the number grow from 40 in 2010 to “We need to move away from linear be realised without our 70 experts
over 200 in 2023. around the globe, who are collabo-
‘take-make-waste’ model towards a
The Switzerland headquartered com- more connected circular economy. rating every day with recyclers, local
pany states that according to the But being part of a circular solution authorities and food and beverage
World Bank, global waste is predicted can’t be driven singlehandedly by one manufacturers to drive the transfor-
to increase to 70% by 2050 unless individual or entity – scientists, poli- mation needed to scale up collection
significant action is taken. cymakers, recyclers, industry play- and recycling.”
ers and citizens must work together,”
Tetra Pak is firmly behind the idea of
building a circular economy and vice said Pfanner.

30 PLASTICS NEWS April 2023