EUROPE – Tetra Pak, a leading food packaging solutions provider, is spearheading strategic investments to bolster carton package recycling capacity across the EU, aligning with proposed EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.
These initiatives are pivotal in ensuring all packaging components are recycled, preserving valuable raw materials, and advancing the transition to a more sustainable food packaging sector.
In 2023, Tetra Pak allocated nearly €40 million (US$42.86m) to accelerate beverage carton recycling worldwide, with plans for further escalation to enhance material circularity.
The focus lies on recycling all components of post-consumer cartons, including polyethylene and aluminium layers (polyAl), which are integral to the carton structure.
This will be achieved by either unlocking new collaborations or by strengthening the capabilities of established recyclers to turn all materials from post-consumer cartons into new high-quality resources and goods.
These add to the existing and well-established recycling infrastructure in the EU, where beverage cartons are recycled in 20 specialized paper mills, with polyAl currently processed by seven facilities (and a further six under development).
In Sweden, a partnership with Axjo Group aims to establish a cutting-edge recycling line, with an annual capacity of 10,000 tonnes, to transform polyAl into injection-moulded plastic products.
In Spain, Tetra Pak and Trans Sabater have co-invested over €2 million and expanded their agreement to increase installed polyAl recycling capacity from 3,000 tonnes to 10,000 tonnes per year.
This valuable secondary raw material has unique thermal properties for increased productivity in plastic transformation processes and is exempt from the plastic tax, as it is a 100% recycled material of post-consumer origin.
In addition, Trans Sabater’s patented mechanical recycling technology improves the quality of the pellets compared to traditional processes. Potential end markets for recycled polyAl are many, including logistics, packaging, retail and gardening.
Also in Spain, Tetra Pak and Alier have forged a collaboration that will consolidate Alier as one of the largest post-consumer carton recyclers in Europe and will help the company to become an integrated player, able to process all materials from used beverage cartons.
Using mechanical recycling, the polyAl will be transformed into high-quality pellets, suitable for a variety of end markets. The ambition is to recycle over 15,000 tonnes of polyAl, per year, by 2025.
Additionally, Tetra Pak’s investment in Recon Polymers’ polyAl recycling plant in the Netherlands seeks to enhance capacity and efficiency, fostering material circularity across France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
This comprehensive approach underscores Tetra Pak’s commitment to a circular economy, epitomizing innovation, sustainability, and environmental stewardship.
Markus Pfanner, Vice President of Sustainability Operations at Tetra Pak, emphasizes the significance of these initiatives in driving forward the circular economy agenda, highlighting the transformative potential of beverage cartons within sustainable food systems.
These investments represent a strategic step towards a greener future, showcasing Tetra Pak’s dedication to environmental responsibility and long-term sustainability.
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