Food Magazine September 2014 | Page 31

TETRA PAK : PACKAGING SUSTAINABILITY CONVERSATION

effect for businesses today . Tetra Pak ’ s white paper posits that , In addition to the environmental benefits of using renewable resources – including mitigating natural resource scarcity , mitigating changes in climate and enabling biodiversity – renewability provides important business growth advantages .

“ That ’ s really what we try to showcase with our white paper ,” says Comere . “ There is not only an environmental case , but also a business case to be made behind the use of renewable resources – there are real opportunities to capture value and support business growth .”

As Comere explains , taking a sustainable approach and making use of renewable resources isn ’ t just about warm feelings – it also makes good business sense . Manufacturers that rely on renewable resources for their raw materials often find that they have a steadier and more reliable access to those resources , with less price volatility . Then there ’ s the increasingly important factor of consumer perception and engagement .

“ We believe that businesses can start building even better brand equity around brand renewability , because consumers increasingly aware of this issue and will reward companies who move in this direction – they can even differentiate themselves from their competitors and emotionally connect with consumers ,” she says . “ Clearly our movement is an environmental call to action , but it ’ s also a business opportunity to move away from the traditional business model of take-make-dispose to something that is more innovative and respectful of the planet .”

Involvement Along the Value Chain Packaging manufacturers work closely every day with their resource suppliers to ensure that the raw materials are in place to deliver a

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