Recycling plays a huge role in preserving the planet for future generations. Not only is it good for the environment but also allows consumers to be more creative and innovative by making new products out of the things that are seen to be no longer of use.

Food packaging and processing solutions company Tetra Pak, with its vision to 'make food safe and available, everywhere,' also promotes recycling as a crucial part of its strategy.

Although Tetra Pak does not own or operate recycling facilities, Tetra Pak makes it their business to make recycling work by working with partners and stakeholders around the world and adapting its approach to reflect local conditions.

TETRA PAK’S CARE & SHARE PROGRAM

As part of Tetra Pak’s efforts to promote awareness for beverage carton recycling in the Philippines, it has been driving its Care & Share program in the country for over 16 years now.

The Care & Share program is an annual interschool competition where students from participating schools are encouraged to properly dispose their used beverage cartons for recycling and to drop them off at recycle bins provided by Tetra Pak in their schools. At the end of the school year, the schools with the most number of packs collected are awarded prizes.

Starting with only 8 partner schools when it was first launched in 2003, the program continues to grow and currently has 202 partner schools.

Through this program, Tetra Pak works with schools to educate students that beverage cartons can be recycled, and to instill the habit of recycling and environment consciousness among the youth.

Care & Share is open to both public and private schools which include Colegio San Augustin, De La Salle Zobel, St. Theresa’s College, Lagro Highschool, Ernesto Rondon Highschool, North Fairview Highschool, to name a few.

Alongside the Care & Share program, Tetra Pak has also been running its Eco Caravan initiative where they conduct environment talks and educate students on the importance of recycling and the right way to dispose drink cartons through fun and interactive activities.

PROTECT WHAT’S GOOD

Tetra Pak is built on a promise to, PROTECT WHAT'S GOOD™. At its core, it is about protecting food. But it goes further, it is also about protecting people, its employees, the communities where it operates, and society.

And, it is about protecting the future by developing products and services that will support the growth of customers, and by acting and operating in ways that best protect the environment.

Tetra Pak cartons are primarily made from paperboard and are recyclable: 75 percent of a Tetra Pak carton is made from paperboard, 20 percent polyethylene and 5 percent aluminium. These three materials are layered together using heat and pressure to form a six layered armor which protects the content inside from light, oxygen, air, dirt and moisture.

Tetra Pak cartons are lightweight and easy to transport. Making use of aseptic technology, Tetra Pak cartons preserve the liquid food inside without the need for preservatives.

FLIP, FLAP, & FLATTEN CARTONS

When it comes to recycling carton packages, Tetra Pak encourages consumers to rinse first and do the 3Fs – Flip, Flap, Flat - before dropping it off for recycling. For packages that have a straw or screw cap, push the straw back in the empty pack or re-attach the cap when you are finished with your drink before disposing. This step will ensure all parts of the package go through the proper disposal process together.

During the recycling process, the paper fibers are separated from the rest of the materials at a paper mill which are used to produce different types of paper-based products. The extracted polymers and aluminum are processed as a composite material, or separately, and then used to make a variety of new products such as roofing sheets, recycle bins, school desks and benches, and other items.

Through its school program in the Philippines, Tetra Pak is encouraging the habit of recycling to start at an early age. In addition to raising consumer awareness through school recycling programs and other channels, Tetra Pak continues to work with more recyclers, government, collection partners and other stakeholders to build recycling knowledge capacity and infrastructure in the country.

RECYCLING WITH THE COFFEE BEAN & TEA LEAF

Continuing its efforts to promote post-consumer recycling with partners, Tetra Pak Philippines is teaming up with The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf to encourage consumers to recycle their Used Beverage Cartons. Starting today until 31 May 2019, the following The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf stores will become recycling collection points.

For packages that have a straw or screw cap, push the straw back in the empty pack or re-attach the cap when you are finished with your drink before disposing. This step will ensure all parts of the package go through the proper disposal process together.

Consumers can bring their rinsed and flattened beverage cartons to these The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf recycling collection points until 31 May 2019.

1. Eastwood Mall
2. Greenhills Promenade
3. 26th St. Bistro, Bonifacio Global City
4. Glorietta 2, Makati
5. One Archers Place, Taft Avenue

For more details, visit www.tetrapak.com/ph and www.coffeebean.com.ph.

Follow facebook.com/coffeebeanphilippines, instagram.com/cbtlph and facebook.com/tetrapakphilippines to stay updated on the beverage carton recycling initiative for 2019.