TetraPak causes huge pollution because few of the TetraPak drinking cartons get recycled and the detritus from these cartons may pose a bigger threat than plastic waste in many locales.
TetraPak cardboard cartons are really complex composites of plastic-lined cardboard and aluminum, and are a deeply imperfect solution.
TetraPak is now the largest food packaging company in the world.
TetraPak cardboard drink containers are difficult to recycle: A typical, shelf-stable carton contains three different materials that consists of 74 percent paper, 22 percent plastic, and 4 percent aluminum.
The combination of materials makes it more difficult and costly to recycle than aluminum—and plastic, for that matter—because the metal and plastic must be stripped out.
TetraPak drink cartons must often be hauled hundreds of miles to be reprocessed.
As a result, only sixteen percent of all beverage cartons get recycled in the U.S.
The rate is even worse abroad; in Vietnam, only one recycler accepts TetraPak in the whole country.
Read the full article
Tetra Pak Recycling: The Complicated Economics Of Drink Containers
Personal Remarks
I’ve always believed that TetraPak was a “green” company with high moral standards.
I was wrong.
TetraPak containers are almost unrecyclable. Using TetraPak means incinerating, paper, aluminium and plastic.
TetraPak also seem to have low moral standards as they have been involved in the boycott of journalist(s).
TetraPak is a master Greenwasher …