Tetra Pak launches eco-friendly packaging with certified recycled polymers in India

INDIA – Tetra Pak has become the first company in India’s food and beverage packaging industry to introduce carton packages made with certified recycled polymers.

These innovative packages incorporate 5% certified recycled polymers and are backed by ISCC PLUS (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification), a globally recognized sustainability standard.

The use of these materials complies with the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2022, mandated by the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, and will come into effect on April 1, 2025.

This milestone underscores Tetra Pak’s strong commitment to a circular economy by reducing dependence on fossil-based resources and maximizing material reuse.

In addition to responsibly sourcing raw materials, the company is focused on designing packages that are easier to recycle and less prone to littering, while also fostering global partnerships to enhance collection and recycling infrastructures.

Cassio Simões, Managing Director of Tetra Pak South Asia, explained, “We are proud to be the first carton packaging producer to introduce packaging material with 5% certified recycled polymers in India.

“The recycled content is sourced locally, and the packaging material is produced at our ISCC PLUS-certified factory in Chakan, Pune. We commend the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change for its commitment to promoting circularity and for making India one of the first countries to enforce this regulation as early as 2025.

“This regulation presents a unique opportunity for the entire food and beverage industry to adopt more circular solutions.”

The certified recycled polymers are managed using the ISCC mass balance attribution method. Through advanced chemical recycling technology, these plastics combine recycled and non-recycled materials with meticulous tracking throughout the Tetra Pak supply chain.

Importantly, these chemically recycled plastics meet the same global food contact standards as virgin polymers and are equivalent in quality to traditional fossil-based plastics.

Adopting recycled materials not only boosts recycling rates but also enhances the economic viability of recycling processes.

Global mandates—now including India—are creating a regulatory push for producers to purchase recycled materials, thereby increasing demand and fostering wider adoption.

Simões further added, “The transition to mainstream adoption of materials like plant-based and recycled polymers is still a work in progress. At Tetra Pak, we remain committed to collaborating with our partners and customers to drive innovation and create synergies.

“Our ultimate goal is to ensure that all our packaging is made from renewable or recycled polymers, eliminating reliance on fossil feedstock.

“Achieving this vision requires collective action from businesses and all stakeholders to accelerate the shift toward a low-carbon, circular economy.”

Subscribe to our email newsletters that provide busy executives like you with the latest news insights and trends from Africa and the World. SUBSCRIBE HERE