Tetra Pak Sets Supplier Tracing and Certification 2030 Goals

Article Sustainability Tetra Pak Sets Supplier Tracing and Certification 2030 Goals By Georgia Collins May 28, 2026 undefined mins Share this article Prioritise Us on Google Share this article Prioritise Us on Google Tetra Pak's Conservador das Araucárias project. Credit: Tetra Pak Francesca Priora, VP Climate and Nature at Tetra Pak outlines how its focusing action where it can deliver the greatest impact across the value chain Tetra Pak has refreshed its approach to nature  protection with new supplier engagement requirements and traceability targets extending to 2030. According to the company's Approach to Nature report, sourcing raw materials creates the most substantial nature impact across its value chain. Land and water use, pollution and climate change all stem from procurement activities related to paper-based materials, polymers and aluminium foil. The framework aligns with objectives from the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The company has closed several 2025 targets and established new action areas for the remainder of the decade. Assessments identified the upstream pillar, covering goods, services and suppliers, as the priority area for nature-related initiatives. The procurement function plays a central role in delivering these commitments, with sourcing decisions directly influencing environmental outcomes across multiple material categories. Supplier certification reaches full coverage Tetra Pak achieved its 2025 target of 100% of paper-based materials originating from FSC-certified and other controlled sources. This milestone required engagement with forestry suppliers across multiple continents to verify chain-of-custody documentation and ensure compliance with certification requirements. The company also reached 100% certification for plant-based polymers through Bonsucro standards. A third milestone involved 100% of high-impact suppliers reporting on water use and quality. The packaging manufacturer has committed to maintaining these certification levels. From 2026, more than 90% of aluminium will be sourced as ASI Aluminium, with all aluminium foil suppliers certified to the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative Performance Standard. This phased approach to aluminium certification reflects the complexity of the global aluminium supply chain, where procurement teams must work with smelters, refiners and foil producers to establish verification systems. The ASI Performance Standard covers environmental, social and governance criteria, requiring suppliers to demonstrate responsible production practices across their operations. "Two years of implementation have given us much clearer insight," says Francesca Priora, Vice President, Climate and Nature at Tetra Pak. "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." When nature thrives, so do we 🌳 Traceability targets for priority materials By 2027, Tetra Pak aims to achieve traceability  to the production unit of origin or sourcing areas for 100% of plant-based polymers, paper-based materials and aluminium foil sourced from high-priority areas. Achieving this level of traceability requires procurement teams to map supply chains beyond tier-one suppliers, identifying the specific mills, plantations and production facilities where raw materials originate. This granular visibility enables the company to assess site-specific risks related to deforestation, water stress and biodiversity loss. A separate 2027 target involves using geographic information to conduct assessments of deforestation-free sourcing in high-priority locations. The company plans to apply this data to verify compliance with its sourcing policies. Francesca notes that collaboration remains central to the strategy: "Our industry relies heavily on nature to shape sustainable and secure food systems for the future. "By working closely with suppliers, customers and partners, we aim to protect key ecosystems and help strengthen the resilience of food systems." The traceability programme builds on existing supplier relationship management systems, integrating geographic data and environmental risk assessments into procurement decision-making processes. Francesca Priora, Vice President Climate & Nature at Tetra Pak Water intensity reductions across the supply base The company has set a 2030 goal to reduce total water  withdrawal intensity at high-water-impact supplier sites by 10% compared to its 2026 baseline. This target extends to 52 production sites around the world. All high-priority sites must complete a nature assessment and have an action plan in place by 2027. Procurement teams are working with suppliers to identify water efficiency opportunities, share best practices and support the implementation of water-saving technologies. The company has established reporting protocols that require suppliers to submit quarterly data on water withdrawals, consumption and discharge quality. Also by 2027, 100% of production sites will identify, monitor and report on wastewater discharges for quality. By 2030, the company aims to reduce water withdrawals by 35% across production sites compared to 2019. Eliminating waste-to-landfill where feasible forms another operational target for 2030. Alexander Nick, Senior Director Climate and Nature at WBCSD Operations and circular economy goals Tetra Pak achieved its 2030 goal of a 50% reduction of Volatile Organic Compounds emissions compared to 2019 levels. This milestone was reached ahead of schedule in 2026. The downstream pillar relates to sales, use and end-of-life products . Water use in equipment and end-of-life packaging drive the main impacts in this segment. The company aims to increase paper content in new packages from a baseline of 50%. By 2030, sales of service solutions enabling sustainability gains should double compared to the 2022 baseline. Tetra Pak aims to support an increase in the effective recycling rate of cartons in the EU to a minimum of 55% by 2035. This goal depends on supporting waste collection infrastructure and promoting recycling across markets. Tetra Pak is enabling progress for the long term. Credit: Tetra Pak Sourcing standards and restoration projects The final pillar addresses actions beyond the value chain that contribute to biodiversity  loss and nature decline. "This transformation is essential if society is to meet the goals of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework," writes Tetra Pak in its report. The company continues to support sustainable  sourcing by engaging with voluntary standards that benefit nature. A land restoration project, Conservador das Araucárias, aims to restore 7,000 hectares in Brazil's Atlantic Forest by 2030. The initiative involves engagement with small-scale farmers and promotes conservation of regional flora and fauna. The project demonstrates how procurement strategies can extend beyond transactional relationships to support landscape-level conservation. By working with farming communities that supply raw materials, Tetra Pak aims to create economic incentives for forest protection while maintaining access to responsibly sourced inputs. "Food systems are highly dependent on nature and protecting them requires collaboration across the value chain," Francesca tells Sustainability Magazine. "By working with our customers and suppliers, we are helping to reduce impacts from our own operations and wider value chain, while supporting the restoration and protection of natural landscapes and biodiversity." Alexander Nick, Senior Director Climate and Nature at WBCSD, commented on the updated approach. "Tetra Pak's updated Approach to Nature reflects an effort to translate ambition into clearer priorities and action across its value chain," he says. "By recognising interdependencies across sustainability areas and taking stock of implementation experience, the company is strengthening the focus of its approach 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 project offers opportunities for sustainable development, including socioeconomic benefits for local communities in the Atlantic Forest region. Company portals Tetra Pak Executives Alexander Nick Senior Director Climate and Nature Francesca Priora Vice President Climate & Nature Tags Sustainability Water Resilience Water Stewardship Nature-Based Solutions Circular Economy Circularity