Tetra Pak commits to net zero GHG emissions by 2050

Tetra Pak has announced a commitment to reach net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its operations by 2030, with the goal to achieve net zero GHG emissions for the entire value chain by 2050. The company will also set emissions reduction targets in line with 1.5°C according to the Science Based Targets (SBT) initiative across scopes 1, 2 and 3.

Since 1999, Tetra Pak has been collecting data on energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from across the organisation on an annual basis, with its GHG accounts audited by an independent third party since 2013.

“We have consistently delivered on our climate goals, right from the first goal set in 2002, again in 2005, and we are on track to meet our 2020 goal. In 2017, we were the first company in the food and beverage industry to have our climate impact reduction targets approved by the SBT initiative. Today, we’re once again leading the way by setting ambitious net zero emissions targets that will drive transformation right across our sector and the entire value chain,” said Lars Holmquist, Executive Vice President, Packaging Solutions and Commercial Operations at Tetra Pak.

The company will focus on four key areas to reach its target of net zero GHG emissions across its own operations by 2030. It will lower energy-related emissions through energy conservation, improvements in energy efficiency, installing on-site solar photovoltaics (solar PV) and purchasing renewable energy. To date, Tetra Pak has installed approximately 2.7 MW of solar PV (or about 8000 panels), delivering low carbon electricity while saving operational costs. A member of the RE100 initiative, Tetra Pak has gone from 20% use of renewable electricity in 2014 to 69% in 2019, and is on track to achieve its 2020 target of 80%. This includes the installation of solar panels across its operations and the purchasing of renewable certificates.

“Ten years ago we set a climate goal to cap our 2020 impact across the value chain at 2010 levels, while growing the business. This helped us save 12 million tonnes of GHG emissions to date. We believe that our ability to set and demonstrate progress in line with science and societal expectations, our innovation drive and the collaborative approach across the value chain put us all on the right path to achieve our new ambition,” Holmquist said.

The company will also partner with suppliers and other stakeholders along the value chain to reduce its carbon footprint. Tetra Pak is working with suppliers to cut upstream carbon emissions, including setting renewable energy targets and increasing the use of renewable and recycled materials, which are critical to make a low carbon circular economy possible.

It also plans to accelerate the development of its low carbon circular packaging and equipment portfolio, and help customers achieve their emission reduction targets. A step change in investment levels in sustainable innovation is helping the company to realise its ambition of a fully recyclable package made solely from renewable or recycled materials, as well as to offer processing and packaging lines with minimal carbon footprint.

Tetra Pak will also develop sustainable recycling value chains, via collaboration with customers, waste management companies, recyclers, municipalities, industry associations and equipment suppliers. The company’s vision is for all beverage cartons to be collected for recycling, and for zero beverage cartons to become litter, or sent to landfill.

Image credit: Tetra Pak