TetraPak Pledges 100% Renewable Energy By 2030

TetraPak, the world’s largest manufacturer of recyclable food and beverage packaging, has joined forces with RE100, “a collaborative, global initiative of influential businesses committed to 100% renewable electricity, working to massively increase demand for — and delivery of — renewable energy.” Today, about 20% of the electricity TetraPak uses in its manufacturing process comes from renewable sources. It intends to increase that to 100% by the year 2030.

The company made the announcement June 2 at the Clean Energy Ministerial forum in San Francisco. Charles Brand, executive vice president for product management and commercial operations at TetraPak, said:

Signing up to RE100 reflects our on-going commitment to minimizing our climate impact and increasing our use of renewable resources.

We have set an ambitious target to ensure carbon emissions across our value chain are capped at 2010 levels through to 2020, and we are making excellent progress. In 2015 emissions were down 15% from the 2010 baseline, despite a 16% increase in production.

Since setting our climate goal we have maximized our efforts to reduce energy consumption; committing to a renewable electricity target is a natural next step. By joining RE100 we will benefit from expert guidance and peer-to-peer learning on renewable electricity options in different markets.

Mark Kenber, CEO of The Climate Group, said at the forum, “The demand push from corporates is as important as supportive government policy – bold action by businesses, cities and governments sends a strong market signal and means we can hold global warming below two degrees far more quickly.

“The Clean Energy Ministerial is shining the spotlight on RE100 as a model of best practice in galvanizing the switch to renewable energy, and the leadership of influential companies – such as Tetra Pak, which is joining RE100 today – shows the business case for 100% renewables is as strong as ever.”

Tetra Pak’s decision to join RE100 reinforces its commitment to tackle climate change. It comes just six months after the company joined the Paris Pledge for Action at COP21. Many of the raw materials for its packing are obtained from Forest Stewardship Council sources. What little plastic is used in its packaging is derived from sugar cane rather than oil. As a global company, its primary focus is on doing business in a way that meets the highest standards of ethical and sustainable business.