Tetra Pak Will Have Bioplastic in 2011
In less ten two years Tetra Pak is going to start using renewable polyethylene as a raw material for making its carton packaging’ plastic closures and caps. Tetra Pak has signed a contract with Braskem, a Brazilian manufacturer, to buy limited volumes of high-density polyethylene from a renewable feedstock in early 2011.
The material will be produced by Brazilian company Braskem, which will have launched the world’s first commercial-scale production line of “eco-friendly” polyethylene by the end of 2010. The traditional Tetra Pak carton is manufactured from 75% paperboard, and between 10% and 25% low density polyethylene is used to laminate the surface of the pack. The company produces the caps and closures from the high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
The annual volumes of the new plastic purchases will be little, though, it is quite enough for now. Tetra Pak will be supplied with 5% of the company’s demand for HDPE, which is a bit less than 1%, if its overall demand for plastic. The new material is made from ethanol extracted from sugar cane to manufacture ethylene and convert it into polyethylene.
Popsop.com
26 November 2009
Tags: sustainability, Tetra Pak
