From:Packaging News

Tetra Pak has launched its 2015 sustainability report, highlighting the Tetra Rex bio-based carton and its progress in implementing operational health and safety.

The Tetra Rex bio-based carton was introduced in January as the world’s first fully renewable package manufactured solely from materials derived from plants.

In June, the company launched Tetra Pak E3 – a filling machine that uses electron beams, rather than hydrogen peroxide, to sterilise packaging material, which results in significant energy savings and reduced environmental impact.

The food packaging and processing company achieved OHSAS 18001 certification (operational health) for 50% of its manufacturing sites – with the remaining sites due to be certified by the end of 2016.

Tetra Pak began a new Dairy Hub project in Senegal earlier this year to add to its work in 2014, securing long-term supply of locally produced quality milk in developing countries.

Additionally, in 2014 around 66 million children received milk or other nutritious drinks in Tetra Pak packages in school, overseen by the company’s Food for Development team.

Dennis Jönsson, president and chief executive of Tetra Pak Group, said Tetra Pak’s approach to sustainability derives from its brand promise – “Protects What’s Good”.

“That means protecting food, through our processing and packaging activities. But it also means protecting people, both inside and outside the company. And it means protecting futures: our planet’s, our customers’ and our own. We have long realised the importance of balancing each of these commitments and that the only way to achieve this is through collaboration, innovation, determination and a strong sense of obligation across the entire company.”

Tetra Pak registered a sluggish year in 2014, due to rising competition within the liquid food packaging sector – with net sales up 1.7%.