Director of Sustainability, Tetra Pak South Asia, Juhi Gupta, says the food packaging major is embedding climate action, ESG accountability, and circularity into its global operations

As India works toward its 2070 net-zero ambition, packaging solutions major Tetra Pak has outlined a more aggressive roadmap—committing to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its value chain by 2050. Juhi Gupta, Director – Sustainability, Tetra Pak South Asia, said the company is advancing its climate goals through science-based targets, supplier engagement, and investments in low-carbon technologies.

Interim Milestones on the Net-Zero Path
According to Gupta, Tetra Pak is on track to meet its 2030 target of reducing absolute scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions by 46 per cent. The company has already cut full value chain emissions by 25 per cent compared with its 2019 baseline. Emissions from purchased materials fell 15 per cent through supplier partnerships under the ‘Join us in Protecting the Planet’ programme.

She added that the share of renewable electricity has increased from 72 per cent to 94 per cent in 2024. Emissions from the use of sold equipment have dropped to 34 per cent, with an ambition to reduce the emissions for processing lines by 50 per cent by 2030 compared to the 2019 baseline. Overall emissions from operations are down 54 per cent, keeping Tetra Pak on track to meet our targets to reduce emissions by 70 per cent by 2030

“By 2047, we envision a radically decarbonised footprint, measured, assured, and aligned with global climate science. Our roadmap ensures that our ambition is not only bold but also actionable and fully accountable,” Gupta said.

Embedding ESG 2.0 into Business Strategy
Gupta noted that ESG is shifting from disclosure to demonstrable outcomes, driven by regulatory frameworks like the EU CSRD and India’s upcoming BRSR Core requirements. “Transparency alone isn’t enough; impact must be tangible, auditable, and aligned with evolving regulatory frameworks,” she said.

To this end, 10 per cent of Tetra Pak’s Balanced Scorecard is tied to sustainability KPIs, and ESG-linked objectives are part of executive compensation. The company is also strengthening data systems to enable real-time, auditable tracking and moving from static reports to dynamic dashboards. “It’s not about ticking boxes—it’s about building resilient, regenerative business models that deliver measurable value for people, planet, and performance,” Gupta added.

On India’s formal carbon market, slated for 2026, Gupta said it represents a “transformative opportunity” for the food and packaging sector. A strong carbon price signal, she explained, can accelerate innovation in renewable materials, energy-efficient processing, and circular packaging.

To avoid the mechanism becoming a regulatory burden, Gupta stressed the need for robust monitoring and verification systems, industry-specific baselines, safeguards against carbon leakage, and reinvestment of revenues into green infrastructure and SME capacity building.

She added, “We see this as a critical step in aligning economic growth with environmental stewardship—core to our purpose of protecting what’s good: food, people, and the planet.”

Innovating for Scope 4
Looking beyond its own footprint, Tetra Pak is also pursuing Scope 4, or avoided emissions, by developing products that reduce downstream impacts for customers. Gupta cited aseptic packaging, which cuts refrigeration needs, and equipment like the AirTight with Encapt separators, which reduce energy consumption by up to 40 per cent.

“Scope 4 remains an emerging area, but it is a critical frontier for credible climate leadership,” she said, adding that Tetra Pak is working with global initiatives such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development to advance measurement methodologies.

With investments of €100 million annually in low-carbon packaging R&D and supplier engagement covering more than 150 key partners, the company aims to anchor its sustainability journey in science, transparency, and action.

At the end, Gupta said, “At the heart of our sustainability approach, we consider the interconnections and interdependencies of five focus areas, which are aligned with our purpose and where Tetra Pak can contribute the most: food systems, nature, climate, circularity, and social sustainability. Tetra Pak remains committed to monitoring, managing, and reporting on our five focus areas.”