Tetra Pak’s Approach to Nature Protection & Water Resilience

Many ecosystems are showing gradual signs of decline, most of which are closely linked with unsustainable human activity.

In 2024, Tetra Pak recognised the risks and articulated efforts to stop and reverse nature loss, as well as promote it.

The company’s Approach to Nature report aligns with and supports objectives from the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The report dives into how the framework is being revised to better reflect the company’s nature protection progress, closed and achieved targets, as well as new action areas.

Sustainable upstream traceability

The company focuses on four targeted pillars: upstream, operations, downstream and transform.

Each pillar reflects a different stage of Tetra Pak’s value chain, with each focusing on distinct key areas to prioritise and implement nature-related initiatives.

The upstream pillar covers everything related to goods, services and suppliers.

After assessments, the company found that sourcing raw materials (paper-based materials, polymers and aluminium foil) has the most significant impact on nature, driven by land and water use, pollution and climate change.

The company achieved its 2025 target of 100% of the paper-based materials used in the company’s products originating from FSCTM-­certified and other controlled sources, while 100% of plant-based polymers being sourced as Bonsucro-certified.

Another target achieved was 100% of Tetra Pak’s high-impact suppliers reporting on water use and quality.

The company writes that it pledges to:

• Continue to source 100% of its paper-based materials from FSC-certified and other controlled sources
• Continue to source 100% of its plant-based polymers as Bonsucro-certified materials
• Continue to source 100% of its aluminium foil from suppliers certified to the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Performance Standard and from 2026, source more than 90% of its aluminium as ASI Aluminium.

By 2027, Tetra Pak aims to achieve traceability to the production unit of origin or sourcing areas for 100% of the plant-based polymers, paper-based materials and aluminium foil that is sourced from high priority areas.

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A new target set for 2027 involves using geographic information to conduct additional assessments of deforestation-free sourcing in high-priority locations. 

“Two years of implementation have given us much clearer insight,” says Francesca Priora, Vice President Climate & Nature at Tetra Pak.

“The refresh of our Approach to Nature reflects a shift towards sharper execution, focusing action where it can deliver the greatest impact across the value chain.

Our industry relies heavily on nature to shape sustainable and secure food systems for the future. 

“As we move towards our next milestones, collaboration remains critical. 

“By working closely with suppliers, customers and partners, we aim to protect key ecosystems and help strengthen the resilience of food systems”.

With a 2030 goal, the company aims to reduce total water withdrawal intensity at high-water-impact supplier sites by 10% compared to its 2026 baseline.

Value chain operations

Tetra Pak has 52 production sites around the world, to date, which are each responsible for the nature impacts associated with the company’s operations.

All high-priority sites are expected to complete a nature assessment and have an action plan in place by 2027.

Also by this date, 100% of Tetra Pak’s production sites will identify, monitor and report on wastewater discharges for quality.

By 2030, the company aims to reduce water withdrawals by 35% across production sites compared to 2019, and eliminate waste-to-landfill where feasible.

“Tetra Pak’s updated Approach to Nature reflects an effort to translate ambition into clearer priorities and action across its value chain,” says Alexander Nick, Senior Director Climate and Nature at WBCSD.

“By recognising interdependencies across sustainability areas and taking stock of implementation experience, the company is strengthening the focus of its approach over time. 

“WBCSD welcomes this willingness to review and adapt: sharpening focus, learning from practice, and aligning corporate action with the shared global ambition to halt and reverse nature loss.” 

This year the company achieved its 2030 goals of a 50% reduction of Volatile Organic Compounds emissions, compared to 2019 levels.

A downstream circular economy

Tetra Pak’s downstream pillar relates to the company's sale, use and end-of-life products.

The impact of the company’s downstream value chain is mainly driven by water use in the equipment sold by the company as well as the end-of-life of packaging products.

The company aims to increase paper content in new packages, with a baseline of 50%.

By 2030, the company aims to double the sales of its service solutions that enable sustainability gains, compared to its 2022 baseline. 

Supporting waste collection and promoting recycling helps the company to invest in the circular economy. 

Tetra Pak aims to support an increase in the effective recycling rate of cartons in the EU to a minimum of 55% by 2035.

“Two years ago, we set a clear direction for our work on nature,” Francesca tells Sustainability Magazine. 

“This refresh builds on that foundation, with guiding principles and actions to help reduce pressure on ecosystems, strengthen water resilience and support more sustainable sourcing practices. 

“Food systems are highly dependent on nature and protecting them requires collaboration across the value chain. 

“By working with our customers and suppliers, we are helping to reduce impacts from our own operations and wider value chain, while supporting the restoration and protection of natural landscapes and biodiversity.” 

Transforming nature loss

The final pillar goes beyond the value chain and focuses on actions that contribute to biodiversity loss and nature decline.

“This transformation is essential, if society is to meet the goals of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,” writes Tetra Pak.

Tetra Pak is continuously supporting the improvement of sustainable sourcing, by actively engaging and supporting the development of voluntary standards that positively contribute to benefitting nature.

The company also has an implemented land restoration project, Conservador das Araucárias, aiming to restore 7,000 hectares of land in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest by 2030.

The project can offer multiple opportunities for sustainable development, including engagement with small-scale farmers, promoting the conservation of the region's flora and fauna, and benefiting local socioeconomic development.