Conversations Are Moving From ‘More Efficient’, To ‘More Efficient And Sustainable

Q: Sustainability has been a stated priority for Tetra Pak. What will be your focus areas in India?
Sustainability remains at the heart of Tetra Pak's strategy. Our holistic approach spans five interconnected areas: food systems, circularity, climate, nature, and social sustainability, where we can make a meaningful impact.

We are working on increasing the fibre content in our packages to make them more renewable while also ensuring responsible sourcing of our raw materials. We are also innovating on the equipment side to help customers reduce their water, energy, and product wastage. In India too, our priority is to ensure that safe food reaches everyone, in a way that minimizes impact on the planet.

In addition, we have been nurturing a strong collection & recycling ecosystem and doing voluntary EPR in India for nearly 20 years. Over the past 3 years, we have invested over INR 25 crore on strengthening this value chain. With mandatory EPR now in place for the industry at large, we are committed to significantly increasing our collection & recycling rates and will increase our investments as well to support our ambition. We will continue to work hard on raising awareness about recycling among consumers, the value of paper-based cartons among waste workers and to identify new recyclers, waste management companies who share our common ambition. Lastly, we will continue to work on programs to support the vulnerable waste-workers communities with better education, health & additional livelihood opportunities.

Q: Decarbonization is fast becoming a priority for organizations. What’s the role of a company like Tetra Pak?
A Tetra Pak package itself is approx 70% paper-based (so, renewable), with the paperboard being responsible sourced. As per few LCA studies, paper-based cartons have a lower carbon footprint in comparison with alterative materials used for similar food products. But the work we do is not just limited to our packages.

Through our equipment and services business, we can work help F&B brands reduce the carbon footprint of their own operations. For example, using a high technology solution that sterilizes packaging material and replaces the traditional hydrogen peroxide sterilization process while guaranteeing the same sterilization performance. This technology is already available in India.

Q: Tetra Pak works with both the biggest and the newest beverage companies. Are they even looking for solutions beyond packaging?
Tetra Pak is a trusted partner for both established and emerging dairy and other beverage companies because we provide end-to-end solutions including packaging, processing, services, recipe development and more. We are proud to say that no other company can provide such a comprehensive portfolio. Our 35-year legacy in India means that we understand the market, a unique edge that helps us support the ambitions of our customers.

Today environmental sustainability is front and centre of discussions & goes beyond packaging. For example, last year we supported a leading Indian beverage company set up three plants to produce value-added dairy products. Processing equipment of all three plants have the potential to deliver water savings of 3000 kl, steam savings of 82 billion Calories and Chemical savings of 20,000 kg per year. Similarly, we supported a customer move away from conventional blending process for juices to a reliable and sustainable new technology, potentially lowering carbon footprint by approximately 50%.

We are very excited that conversations are moving from ‘how can we make it more efficient’, to ‘how can we make it more efficient and sustainable’.

Q: Tetra Pak has announced many sustainability-related innovations recently. Can you share some of the most recent updates?
Reducing our carbon footprint is one of our key objectives and we are working towards the same through many global innovations. For example, we have recently piloted an industry-first fibre-based barrier to replace the thin aluminum foil layer in aseptic carton packages – a breakthrough in our journey towards a fully renewable aseptic package. We are also supplying customers in many countries with tethered cap solutions, that play an important role in preventing litter, as the cap will stay attached to the package. They can also help reduce the carbon footprint of the carton when they are chosen by food manufacturers as plant-based options.

Q: What are some of the challenges that will need to be addressed in next 2–3-years to accelerate India’s sustainability journey?
There are quite a few challenges to consider. Let me share two of them with you.

Our annual trends report - Tetra Pak Index - suggests that concerns about climate change are rising significantly higher in emerging markets, notably India (81%) and China (80%). Over a third of consumers say they are choosing brands based on their sustainability credentials more now than they did before the pandemic. However, there is often a “say-do” gap when it comes to choosing sustainable products. Consumers express a desire to for more environmentally sound products but are unwilling to pay more for such products. Addressing this gap will make a significant difference and encourage entrepreneurship & innovation.

We are also likely to face the challenge of availability of materials like plant-based polymers, which are promising for environmental sustainability, but not available at scale, therefore not easily accessible or affordable for consumers.