A new bio-based carton, a filling machine using electron beams, and several dairy supply projects in developing countries helped mark a successful year for Tetra Pak.
The packaging supplier began the year with the launch of the Tetra Rex Bio-based carton - the world’s first fully renewable package manufactured solely from materials derived from plants.
In June, the Tetra Pak E3 filling machine was launched, with the announcement that it uses electron beams rather than hydrogen peroxide to sterilise packaging material. This results in significant energy savings and reduced environmental impact.
The company also implemented a global operational health and safety (OHS) management system, with the aim of achieving OHSAS 18001 certification for all its manufacturing sites by the end of 2016. So far, 50 per cent have been certified, up from 42 per cent in 2013.
Tetra Pak maintained its support of Dairy Hub projects in Bangladesh, Kenya, Nicaragua and Sri Lanka in 2014 and began a new project in Senegal in early 2015. Through these projects, the company helps to secure long-term supply of locally produced quality milk in developing countries.
During the past year, as a result of Dairy Hubs, particular progress has been made in Bangladesh, where the dairy farmers’ average net monthly income has reached $245, up from $70-90 in 2012.
Tetra Pak’s Food for Development team continued its support to governments and customers in implementing school feeding programs. In 2014, 66 million children received milk or other nutritious drinks in Tetra Pak packages at school.
During the first quarter of 2015, Tetra Pak’s Deeper in the Pyramid (DiP) unit launched more than 20 new products designed specifically for the low-income consumer segment in over 10 countries, while increasing the number of packages sold by 12 per cent compared to the same period last year.
The Tetra Pak sustainability report is now available here.
