Tetra Pak Invests in Recycling
The partnership between Tetra Pak and Kahramanmaraş Kağıt Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş, which began in 2016, continues to strengthen with the granule facility that came into operation in 2021.
In collaboration with Tetra Pak and Kahramanmaraş Kağıt Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş (KMK), Turkey's first facility implementing zero-waste practices in beverage carton recycling has been established.
The facility, which enables the recycling of all components of cardboard packages and was implemented with an investment of approximately TRY 50 million, has the capacity to recycle 18,000 tonnes of carton annually.
In line with Tetra Pak's sustainability vision and in collaboration with Kahramanmaraş Kağıt Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş, one of the most important recycling partners in the Middle East and Africa region, Turkey's first facility implementing zero-waste practices in beverage carton recycling has been established with an investment of approximately TRY 50 million.
At the recycling facility where Tetra Pak cartons are separated through specific processes and fibres are incorporated into the paper production process, the remaining polyethylene and aluminium components are converted into granules and returned to the economy. Beverage carton waste, which is predominantly recycled for the paper sector, is also used as raw material in a wide range of products.
Volkan Aydeniz, Director of Sustainability, Tetra Pak Middle East & Africa:
"The period we are living in has clearly demonstrated that our planet, society and economy cannot exist independently of one another. We all have very important responsibilities for a sustainable future.
As Tetra Pak, in line with this vision, since 2016 with KMK, one of our most important recycling partners, we have brought to life our facility that makes it possible to recycle all components of Tetra Pak carton packages.
We are pleased to see our carton packages transformed into useful products that are part of everyday life. We want to increase these benefits for both our country's and our planet's future.
In the coming period, we will therefore continue to play an active role in low-carbon circular economy and recycling initiatives.
We will place greater emphasis on our regional and local activities. As we continue our journey toward creating the world's most sustainable food packaging, we are ready to accelerate the steps taken and become part of the solution."
Mahmut Ciğer, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Key Holding and KMK:
"This journey we embarked upon with Tetra Pak with the goal of converting all carton packaging components into valuable end products has been exciting and inspiring.
Today, we are pleased to achieve this with our facility, which is a first in Turkey and one of only a handful in the world.
We believe that the future of carton recycling in Turkey is bright, and we continue our efforts to support this with our strong business partnerships."
"Choose nature, choose carton"
Tetra Pak, which continues R&D work to produce sustainable, high-performance packages while ensuring that food is safe and accessible worldwide and to reduce the impact of climate change, presents its work transparently through the "Choose Nature. Choose Carton." global campaign, explaining its goal of the world's most sustainable food packaging while inviting stakeholders and consumers to participate in this initiative.
