Today's sustainability challenges are all interconnected, but the bright side is that most of us can do something to address them. So what actions can you, as a food and beverage producer, take to have a positive impact?
One example is the innovative product category of whole soya bean beverages, where products have numerous proven sustainability benefits compared to traditionally extracted soya1. The packaging solutions you choose may help reduce the carbon footprint of your portfolio, while also responding to consumers’ growing expectations for sustainable consumption. Here’s how it works.
Packaging reflecting whole soya’s appeal
Whole soya products hand consumers a more authentic soya experience. That is not only a big plus for taste, nutrition, and satiety but also the fact that it produces less waste and uses less water in production2. So, by incorporating the fibre-component of the soya bean, what previously was waste transforms into a natural nutritional boost that also brings reduced environmental impact. Our cartons are made of approximately 70% paper. Responsibly sourced paper is a renewable resource. All paperboard used in Tetra Pak packages comes from forests certified to Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™) and other controlled sources. In addition, we are continuously working to increase the renewable content in our products, for example, with plant-based polymers derived from sugarcane for plastic layers and caps.
If production is not socially, environmentally, and economically sound, any potential sustainability benefits of a package are mitigated. That is why we work with certified suppliers of wood fibres3 and sugarcane4
Ready to be recycled
Recycling is an important part of circularity. Our carton packages are recyclable where adequate collection, sorting, and recycling infrastructures are in place. The paperboard can be recycled, while the thin layer of polymers (or plastics and aluminium) in our cartons can be turned into new products such as roofing sheets, crates, carton boxes and more, depending on locally implemented solutions.
We are designing packaging made from a simplified material structure and increased paper-based content along with solutions that help prevent littering. We have recently introduced certified recycled polymers, and we are committed to introducing 10% recycled plastic content across our carton packages in Europe by 2030. Thereby, we contribute to the use of recycled plastics. When it comes to reducing plastic waste, our tethered caps portfolio helps minimize litter as the cap stays attached to the package after opening.
Long-lasting benefits
For all the benefits of renewable materials and recycling, let’s not forget what distributing your whole soya products at room temperature brings to the table. No refrigeration makes for energy-efficient transportation and storage, while the long shelf life of the product can help prevent food waste. Other than these aspects can help reduce environmental impact, aseptic packaging technology also eliminates the need for preservatives, which nicely ties into the natural appeal of whole bean soya.
Toward a fibre-based barrier
Behind the benefits of ambient distribution is our aseptic packaging technology; especially, a thin aluminium layer that prevents oxygen and light from getting to the product. But although it's thinner than human hair, and makes up less than 5% of the total material used, it is responsible for one third of the greenhouse gas emissions related to the package. Therefore, we are testing an industry-first fibre-based barrier for food carton packages distributed under ambient conditions. Early results suggest that the package with a fibre-based barrier could substantially reduce CO2 compared to traditional aseptic cartons.
The integrated edge
Unlocking plant based opportunities
Related links and documents
Documents
1 https://www.tetrapak.com/solutions/processing/applications/beverages/soy#soya-sustainability
2 https://www.tetrapak.com/solutions/processing/applications/beverages/soy#soya-sustainability
3 https://www.tetrapak.com/sustainability/focus-areas/biodiversity-and-nature/responsible-sourcing/paperboard
4 https://www.tetrapak.com/about-tetra-pak/news-and-events/newsarchive/tetra-pak-first-company-fully-traceable-plant-based-polymers-packaging
5 This means creating cartons that are fully made of renewable or recycled materials that are responsibly sourced, thereby helping protect and restore our planet's climate, resources and biodiversity; that are contributing towards carbon-neutral production and distribution; that are convenient and safe, thereby helping to enable a resilient food system; that are fully recyclable.