Tetra Pak® and Braskem sign supply agreement for I'm green<sup>TM</sup> plastic

Positioning Brazil center stage for a major innovation in the carton packaging industry, Tetra Pak®, the world’s leading food processing and packaging solutions company, has just signed an agreement with Braskem, Latin America’s largest petrochemical company, for the supply of I’m green^TM low-density polyethylene (LDPE) made from sugarcane, which will form the protective layers of its packaging in Brazil.

Starting in 2014, Tetra Pak® will use the green plastic as a component in the layers of its packaging manufactured in Brazil. The switch to green polyethylene will mean that 100% of Tetra Pak’s packaging produced in Brazil, or 13 billion packages, will be made with approximately 82% of their materials derived from renewable resources.

“The new agreement with Braskem demonstrates our commitment to bringing environmental innovation to our clients and represents another step in our journey to develop packaging that is 100% renewable,” said Dennis Jönsson, President and CEO of the Tetra Pak Group®.

Braskem will use ethanol derived from sugarcane to produce ethylene, which is then converted into low-density polyethylene that has exactly the same technical properties as polyethylene derived from fossil fuels, but with the environmental benefits of a material made from renewable resources.
“I’m green^TM polyethylene has the same characteristics as traditional polyethylene, such as being inert, resistant and recyclable, with the advantage of being made from renewable materials, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere during the sugarcane’s growth phase,” explained Carlos Fadigas, Braskem’s CEO, while underscoring that expanding the line of green products bolsters the company’s commitment to adding value to the chain through sustainable development.

Since 2008, the paper custody chain has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®), which means that all paper used as raw material in Tetra Pak® packaging comes from responsibly managed forests, which makes it possible for consumers to track the entire production chain of the paper used in its packaging, from the planting of tree seedlings to the final product.

Tetra Pak® became the world’s first supplier of packaging for liquid food products to adopt the use of green plastic in its products with its launch of Tetra Brik® Aseptic 1000 with StreamCapT, which is a cap made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) derived from sugarcane that was supplied by Braskem in 2011. At the start of this month, the company announced the global launch of LightcapT 30, a cap also made from green plastic.

About Tetra Pak
Tetra Pak® is the world’s leading food processing and packaging solutions company. Working closely with our customers and suppliers, we provide safe, innovative and environmentally sound products that each day meet the needs of hundreds of millions of people in over 170 countries around the world. With over 23,000 employees based in more than 85 countries, we believe in responsible management and a sustainable approach to business. Our slogan “PROTECT WHAT’S GOOD” reflects our vision to make food safe and available everywhere.