Is Tetra Pak better for the environment than tin cans?
An increasing amount of the food I buy now seems to be packaged in Tetrapak cartons rather than tin cans. Is this better for the environment? K Lacey, by email The “Tetra Recart”, as this replacement carton is officially known, was first introduced in the UK in late 2007. Sainsbury’s was the first supermarket to use them and it partly justified the move by saying that the Tetra Recart, which is produced by the packaging giant Tetra Pak, is made from FSC-certified “paperboard” and, overall, has less impact on the environment over its life cycle than a “tin” can. “As the 21st-century alternative to canned foods, the Tetra Recart carton reassures Sainsbury’s customers that the paperboard used comes from well-managed forests and controlled sources,” the supermarket said. “The package’s rectangular shape also reduces carbon footprint, as it is highly efficient during transportation, storage and in distribution, using 33% less space than a can. As well as being two-thirds lighter than a tin
