Sustainable packaging thinks outside the box

Tetra Pak has supplied more than 700 million FSC-certified packages across Oceania alone.

ELEMENT PROMOTION: "A package should save more than it costs," says Tetra Pak founder Dr Ruben Rausing. The global packaging company takes that mantra seriously, and not just financially. Tetra Pak is leading the industry in environmentally and socially responsible innovations.

Following the launch of the world's first Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) labelled beverage carton in 2007 the company now has FSC CoC certification across its 92 entities worldwide and has supplied more than 700 million FSC labelled packages in Oceania alone. It is also being lauded as the first company to introduce an entirely bio-based, recyclable carton, made from plant-based plastics derived from sugar cane.

The first Tetra Pak package in New Zealand to carry the FSC label was The Fonterra Milk for Schools product. Today, with a secure supply chain in place, they are able to offer FSC certified material for all their packages in the region. Currently, 30 per cent of Tetra Pak packages in New Zealand, used by Fonterra, Frucor, Goodman Fielder and Miraka Dairy, carry the FSC label - a mark confirming that the wood fibres used for packaging originate from FSC Certified forests and other controlled sources.

According to a recent environmental study by Tetra Pak, 37 per cent of consumers regularly search for environmental logos on food packaging. As such, Tetra Pak is aiming to increase awareness around the FSC label so more consumers can recognise responsible packaging on the shelf. With an FSC label consumers know that aside from preserving the contents, the packages also look after our forests.

Tetra Pak's environmental efforts are not going unnoticed. The company has been awarded various accolades including two World Star Awards in the beverage category, as well as topping the KPI 7 Product Stewardship category at this year's Australian Packaging Covenant Awards.

Tetra Pak is looking towards a sustainable future.

The company is working towards 100 per cent of its packaging coming from renewable resources. It's consistently implementing systems to limit energy, water and chemical waste in its facilities across the world. By 2020 Tetra Pak plans to cap its carbon emissions at its 2010 levels despite continuous growth. Tetra Pak promises to "protect what's good", a promise that goes beyond just food. It is protecting the future of our forests and our world.

The Numbers: Tetra Pak

1st
The first FSC-labelled Tetra Pak package in New Zealand was for Fonterra Milk for Schools

75%
In a recent global survey over three quarters of 6000 consumers in 12 countries said that environmentally sound packaging influences the beverage brand they buy

23%
In the same survey, 23%
of consumers recognised the FSC logo

75%
Almost three quarters of Tetra Pak cartons are made up of renewable paperboard materials

50%
Half of packaging deliveries to Tetra Pak Oceania customers in August
featured the FSC logo

3-5%
Tetra Pak cartons are 3-5% package and 95%-97% content

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