Tetra Pak, a world-leading food processing and packaging solutions company, is investing approximately 100 million euros in research and development to further promote innovative and sustainable packaging solutions, as it highlights a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its value chain since 2019—marking a further five-percentage-point improvement since 2023.
At the unveiling on Friday, October 17, of Tetra Pak’s full-year 2024 Sustainability Report, the company said the 100-million euro R&D investment is expected to further enhance environmental profile of cartons without compromising food safety.
This investment, released in 2024, is expected to lead to more innovations, including the recycled polymer caps developed in partnership with Elle & Vire, and the Tetra Brik® Aseptic 200 Slim Leaf with a paper-based barrier.
Terrynz Tan, Tetra Pak Sustainability Director for ASEAN, said the investment is not country-specific and will depend on partners’ programs and project profiles to push for innovative food packaging solutions that promote sustainable use of resources.
In 2024, Tetra Pak invested 42 million euros to deliver on its collection and recycling targets. More than 1.3 million tons of food and beverage cartons were collected and sent for recycling. The company vowed to continue investing to further strengthen collection and recycling value chains worldwide.
Aside from the significant reduction in its GHG emissions across its value chain, the company’s Sustainability Report also highlighted that within its own operations, it has achieved a 54 percent reduction in GHG emissions since 2019 and 94 percent renewable energy consumption—keeping the company on track to achieve net-zero GHG emissions in its own operations by 2030.
Moreover, these environmental achievements go hand in hand with the company’s continuous efforts to improve livelihoods and strengthen economies through the delivery of safe food everywhere.
Other highlights of the Sustainability Report include helping food production factories achieve up to a 40 percent reduction in energy consumption and a 60 percent improvement in quality consistency—thereby preventing food waste—through Tetra Pak’s advanced manufacturing solutions.
Tetra Pak has also provided 66 million children in 49 countries with milk or other nutritious beverages in packages through school feeding programs. It has been helping 84,000 smallholder dairy farmers across 29 Dairy Hub sites worldwide achieve greater income security while providing a stable raw milk supply to dairy manufacturers.
Partners
In the Philippines, Tan said that Tetra Pak has been actively engaged in several local sustainability initiatives that focus on circular economy practices, community development, and environmental education. Its local partners include Carpel Corporation, Basic Environmental Systems & Technologies Inc. (BEST), Rural Industrial Corp., and the Municipality of Malvar, Batangas.
These partners have committed to continue expanding their footprint to promote environmental protection through sustainable initiatives.
For instance, the women-led enterprise Carpel continues to champion waste collection, recycling, and environmental stewardship. Illuminada Pesano Teves, who heads Carpel, has expanded its Linis Ganda program by empowering junk shop owners and waste collectors nationwide through livelihood opportunities that promote circular waste management systems.
At BEST, Jan Vincent Mercardo spearheads projects like the My Basurero App and Trash to Cash, which enhance community participation, traceability, and data-driven recycling efforts.
Tetra Pak has been running its Cartons for Communities program to raise awareness of the sustainability benefits of using beverage cartons. The initiative partners with various stakeholders to promote food and beverage cartons as recyclable materials, while also ensuring a system of collection. Partners like Rural Industrial Corporation and Axelum Resources Corporation then transform the cartons into PolyAl boards, recycled chipboards, and roofing sheets, which can be repurposed into valuable items like furniture, housing, and school facilities.
The program has seen over 700 tons of cartons collected in 2024, with 80 percent year-on-year growth. In addition, Tetra Pak has expanded its outreach to LGUs nationwide, bringing new regions into the program and strengthening its impact.
