Sustainable Converting
Building a closed-loop circular economy
How the packaging industry can address climate change, by Alex Henriksen, managing director of Tetra Pak North Europe.
his summer, an exceptional heatwave hit the UK and much of mainland Europe, with the UK recording its hottest ever temperature at 40.3°C. With the Met Office concluding that the UK will have longer and drier summers in the future, this weather shift has been another wake-up call for companies looking to take action on mitigating climate change.
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While companies have assessed their commitments with renewed vigour, there is still much work to be done, with efforts to limit global warming by 1.5°C not on track. We need to preserve our planet by decarbonising the materials and energy we use, and work harder to nurture a circular economy. The packaging industry must take a lead on this, especially as plastic packaging accounts for nearly 70% of plastic waste in the UK.
With the global population expected to grow by a quarter by 2050 , and 821 million people globally undernourished today, access to safe food has never been more vital. The business world is a lynchpin for getting this balance right, with the packaging industry at the apex. It can help to deliver high-performance packaging that keeps food safe, without impacting the world’s limited resources. How? By considering the entire lifecycle.
MAXIMISING THE USE OF MATERIALS How raw materials are sourced and their environmental impact is critical to building a circular economy. The industry must find less carbon intensive alternatives to fossil fuel-based materials, and increase the use of renewable materials, helping to ensure circularity in the packaging supply chain. Tetra Pak’s Tetra Rex Plant-based carton, for example, is the world’s first fully renewable beverage carton. It is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and made entirely of paperboard, from responsibly managed forests and other controlled sources. The plastic
is also plant-based, made from Bonsucro- certified sugarcane.
Furthermore, this year Tetra Pak is testing a fibre-based barrier to replace the aluminium layer in its aseptic packages. This marks another step forward in Tetra Pak’s long-term roadmap towards developing an aseptic package that is fully renewable, fully recyclable and carbon neutral.
WINNING CONSUMER TRUST The Tetra Pak Index 2021 revealed consumers are showing increasing levels of environmental concern. In fact, UK respondents are more worried about the environment than COVID-19 (63% versus 58%). Not only do consumers want to move towards more environmentally focused products but having them fully engaged in the processes of a closed-loop circular economy is vital to actually achieving one. People need to trust and feel confident in using recyclable packaging, made from renewable materials. This requires transparency and collaboration – the industry must work with cross-sector stakeholders and third-party organisations – such as FSC, Bonsucro Chain of Custody and other external certification programmes – to effectively show this across the supply chain.
Progress will also be limited in recycling unless consumers can be persuaded to actively engage with recycling processes. Packaging companies have a responsibility to invest in consumer education, to encourage them to engage with recycling culture, refute common misconceptions and empower them to deliver a positive change.
PARTNERING FOR AN ALL-IN DEPOSIT RETURN SCHEME (DRS) SYSTEM Educating consumers on the characteristics of different packages, as well as how they can be recycled, is also vital. But recycling is often misconceived as a silver bullet for packaging waste management. It can only
boost recycling rates and support a circular economy if the corresponding infrastructure is consistent and has the ability to sort carton packages more effectively for recycling. Packaging companies have an important part to play here.
Back in 2013, Tetra Pak supported the opening of a carton packaging recycling plant near Halifax, capable of recycling up to 40% of the cartons manufactured each year for the UK food and drink market. However, investment in consistent infrastructure goes beyond what individual companies can do, requiring cross- industry and cross-sector conversations and partnerships.
This July, Tetra Pak was involved in the signing of a letter to former Environment Secretary George Eustice MP, from 20 cross- party MPs, appealing to the Government to widen the scope of materials included in its proposals for a DRS. Policy must be ambitious, creating an ‘all-in’ DRS that includes as wide a range of materials as possible, including cartons, will help improve consumer awareness and education. These efforts need to be progressed regardless of changes in government.
ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE HEAD ON The packaging industry must reflect on its role in delivering a circular economy. It needs to go beyond effective waste management through a comprehensive DRS, and investment in plant-based, renewable materials in packaging design.
A challenge as far-reaching as climate change requires a far-reaching response. Fortunately, no business works in isolation – and this is the case when it comes to addressing climate change. That’s why Tetra Pak is calling on stakeholders from the packaging industry and beyond to work together to achieve a tangible circular economy.
Xwww.tetrapak.com
www.convertermag.com
October 2022
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