Tetra Pak has introduced packaging material incorporating certified recycled polymers in India, becoming the first company in the country’s food and beverage packaging industry to do so. These carton packages, certified by ISCC PLUS (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification), contain 5% certified recycled polymers, aligning with the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change’s Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2022, set to take effect on April 1, 2025.
This initiative marks a significant step toward circularity, reducing reliance on fossil-based resources and enhancing material reuse. Tetra Pak remains committed to sustainable sourcing, designing recyclable packaging, and collaborating with partners to strengthen collection and recycling infrastructure globally.
Cassio Simoes, Managing Director of Tetra Pak South Asia, expressed pride in pioneering the introduction of packaging with certified recycled polymers in India. He highlighted that the recycled material is sourced locally, with production taking place at the company’s ISCC PLUS-certified facility in Chakan, Pune. Simoes also commended the Ministry’s proactive stance in driving circularity, making India one of the first countries to enforce such regulations by 2025. He emphasized the need for industry-wide collaboration to accelerate the transition to sustainable packaging solutions.
The ISCC PLUS-certified recycled polymers used in Tetra Pak’s packaging follow the ISCC mass balance attribution method. Through chemical recycling, plastics are processed from a combination of recycled and virgin materials, with the recycled content carefully tracked across the supply chain. These chemically recycled plastics meet global food safety standards and offer the same quality as conventional fossil-based plastics. By integrating recycled materials, Tetra Pak aims to boost recycling rates and enhance the economic viability of recycling, reinforcing a circular economy approach.
Simoes acknowledged that while the large-scale adoption of plant-based and recycled polymers is still evolving, Tetra Pak remains committed to innovation and collaboration with industry stakeholders. The company’s long-term vision is to transition entirely to renewable or recycled polymers, eliminating dependence on fossil-based raw materials. Achieving this goal will require collective efforts from businesses, policymakers, and other stakeholders to drive the shift toward a low-carbon, circular economy.
Tetra Pak is a global leader in food processing and packaging solutions, working with customers and suppliers to ensure safe, nutritious food reaches people in over 160 countries. With a workforce of more than 24,000 employees worldwide, the company is dedicated to protecting food, people, and the planet through sustainable innovations and responsible business practices.
