Tetra Pak introduces certified recycled polymers

This move marks a key step in Tetra Pak’s approach to circularity which includes: minimizing dependency on fossil-based resources; responsibly sourcing raw materials, among others.

Tetra Pak has recently announced the introduction of certified recycled polymers, becoming the first company in the food and beverage packaging industry to be awarded the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) Advanced Products certification. Its carton packages integrating attributed recycled polymers are now available for food and beverage manufacturers.

This move marks a key step in Tetra Pak’s approach to circularity which includes: minimizing dependency on fossil-based resources; responsibly sourcing raw materials; designing packages for enhanced recycling and reduced litter, and building partnerships to develop effective collection and recycling infrastructure worldwide.

Using recycled material can contribute to increased recycling rates and make recycling more economically viable. But reliable sourcing and quality can be a challenge, due to the limited availability of food-grade recycled plastics in the market at present.  

Tetra Pak initiated a close supplier collaboration to explore utilizing recycled polymers in carton packages and identified INEOS to provide the first batch of attributed recycled polyethylene (PE). The global manufacturer of petrochemicals, specialty chemicals and oil products is leveraging PLASTIC ENERGY’s advanced recycling process to convert waste plastic into high-quality polymers, replacing oil-based products with material featuring identical specifications and the same level of product purity as virgin plastic.

Following the RSB chain of custody attribution method, the plastics are made of a mix of recycled and non-recycled materials, with the corresponding mass of recycled materials tracked throughout the Tetra Pak supply chain.