Tetra Pak has updated its acclaimed Approach to Nature, intensifying its commitment to responsible sourcing and enhancing water resilience. This initiative aims to maximize positive contributions while addressing significant environmental impacts, following two years of practical implementation throughout its value chain.
Initially introduced in 2024, the Approach to Nature outlines over twenty specific targets designed to prevent and reverse biodiversity loss, restore ecosystems, and improve global water security, in line with international biodiversity initiatives.
Drawing from insights gained during its application, Tetra Pak has refined the framework to focus on areas where it can yield significant results. This targeted strategy allocates resources to high-impact materials, specific locations, and supplier sites, establishing clearer expectations concerning traceability, verification, and measurable outcomes. The updated Approach continues to emphasize four essential areas: Upstream, Operations, Downstream, and Transform, with a heightened focus on upstream activities where the company’s greatest environmental impacts and dependencies are apparent. Notable revisions include using geographic information systems to confirm the deforestation-free status of critical sourcing locations and aiming for a 10% reduction in total water withdrawal by 2030 at suppliers with significant water-related challenges.
Francesca Priora, Tetra Pak’s Vice President for Climate & Nature, remarked on the revision: “Two years of implementation have given us much clearer insight. 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.”
The updated framework also emphasizes the transition to a circular economy through better product design, performance improvements, and enhanced collection, recycling, and waste management strategies.
Alexander Nick, Senior Director of Climate and Nature at WBCSD, commented: “Tetra Pak’s updated Approach to Nature reflects an effort to translate ambition into clearer priorities and action across its value chain. By recognizing interdependencies across sustainability areas and evaluating implementation experiences, the company is fine-tuning its focus 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.”
The refined Approach builds on operational insights and tangible progress made since its 2024 launch, which includes:
– Collaborating closely with suppliers to conduct nature-related impact assessments and establish relevant procurement standards.
– Enhancing responsible sourcing protocols, with 100% of paper-based materials sourced from FSC-certified and other controlled sources, and ensuring that all plant-based polymers are Bonsucro-certified.
– Promoting water resilience by requiring high-impact suppliers to report on water quality and quantity, as well as setting targets for reducing water withdrawal intensity at these sites.
– Exceeding expectations in air pollution reduction, illustrating how focused efforts can expedite progress, as evidenced by achieving its 2030 target to lower volatile organic compound emissions across production sites by 50% from a 2019 baseline.
