Our packs grow back when forests grow back.

Using mostly wood to make Tetra Pak® packages is the second part of the renewability story. Where that wood comes from is the beginning. We strive to use wood from responsibly-managed forests. That means that the harvest levels of trees can be permanently sustained.

And that’s important. Because we all depend on our forests to provide us with clean water, fresh air, medicine, wood and paper products — and even help us in the fight against global warming. When managed correctly, forests benefit everyone and will continue to thrive.

From raw materials to recycling... the story of our packages.

  • We start with renewable raw materials

    Paperboard (made from wood) and sugarcane are among the renewable products we use to make our packages. We use renewable material when we can without compromising quality or food safety.

  • Using certified paperboard

    In 2012, more than 26 billion packages were labeled FSC™, which is an increase of 40% compared to 2011.

  • Turning raw materials into packaging material

    We strive to minimize energy use and reduce waste during production at our factories. For instance, our Hohhot packaging material manufacturing plant in China uses only wind energy.

  • Making production and distribution efficient

    We strive to have as little impact on the environment as possible. To this end, we are always developing ways to reduce the consumption of energy and water, and minimize the amount of waste created in production and distribution of our packages.

    In practice this means:

    • Increasing the amount of renewable material in our package
    • Reducing the amount of materials in our packages
    • Increasing the efficiency of our equipment
    • Minimizing emissions
    • Securing efficient storage and transportation solutions

    Plus, to help our customers reduce their environmental footprint when filling and packaging their product, we supply them with the most up-to-date, environmentally sound equipment.

  • Your role

    So what do you have to do? Not a lot. Just choose products with care. In other words, look for the pack that is made from stuff that grows back. And be sure to reuse or recycle packages when you’re done with them. It’s an easy way to make a better choice for the environment.

  • Recycling

    To increase recycling, we work with customers, suppliers, public authorities, environmental organizations, industry groups and community associations.

What does FSC™ mean?

We’re proud to wear the FSC™ logo. The FSC™ (Forest Stewardship Council™) is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organization that promotes responsible forest management worldwide. Via a rigorous certification system, it provides internationally recognized standard-setting, trademark assurance and accreditation service to companies, organizations and communities working with responsible forestry.

The FSC™ label tells you that the packaging material comes from certified responsibly managed forests and/or controlled sources. These forests are managed so that they can make a real contribution to the needs of future generations — socially, economically and ecologically. Some of our packages already carry the FSC™ logo. We’re rapidly expanding this initiative.

Forest protection projects around the world

Through its forest certification program, FSC™ contributes to the development of responsible forestry practices around the globe. We also work with other trusted organizations such as the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN) to increase and promote the responsible management of forests worldwide. Here are a few example of projects we have been involved with:

  • Mexico

    Tetra Pak Mexico ran an internal environmental competition in which volunteers, organized in to teams, competed to carry out reforestation and recycling projects. The winners, from the Queretaro manufacturing site, ran a reforestation project involving schools.

  • China

    Tetra Pak China together with WWF helped the Yong’an Forest achieve FSC™ certification in 2008, making it the biggest such forest in southern China. WWF honoured Tetra Pak for our dedicated efforts in advocating and implementing responsible forest management systems in China.

  • Spain

    Tetra Pak sponsored WWF/Adena replanting of elm groves that had been devastated by Dutch elm disease, contamination and extensive farming. The groves lie around El Campillo Lake, part of Madrid's southeastern regional park and close to our Arganda del Rey factory. About 50 employees and their relatives volunteered; helping to plant approximately 500 saplings.

  • Poland

    Since 2006, Tetra Pak has cooperated with several major Polish national parks to plant 280,000 new trees. Tetra Pak Poland used web-based viral marketing to educate people about renewability and climate issues. Registered users planted 'virtual saplings' on a dedicated website and a link was sent to contacts, encouraging them to visit the 'virtual forest'. For each virtual tree on the site, Tetra Pak planted a real tree in one of the Poland’s national parks.

Partners

Since the environment and sustainability are very complex topics, we work with, and learn from, leading environmental and development organizations around the world. Here are a few examples:

The UN Global Compact

Tetra Pak signed up to the Global Compact in 2004. This United Nations initiative unites businesses committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles — in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.

WWF

Tetra Pak has worked with WWF since 2006, cooperating on issues related to climate and forestry. Active in 100 countries, WWF is the world's leading conservation organization and works to protect the future of nature. Since 2005, we have also worked with WWF Climate Savers, a partnership between WWF and companies that have made voluntary commitments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. It aims to mobilize industry by showing how lowering emissions can also be good for business.

High Conservation Value Resource Network (HCVRN)

The HCVRN aims to maintain and enhance the critically important social and environmental values of forests and other ecosystems, as part of responsible land management. This network is made up of people and organizations that adopt the HCV approach.

Forest Stewardship Council™

The Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™) is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organization that promotes responsible management of the world's forests.

Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN)

GFTN works towards the elimination of illegal logging in an effort to save the world's valuable and threatened forests.