Tetra Pak celebrates the sixtieth anniversary of its presence in Italy, an achievement summarized in the title “60 years of the future”. The brand’s arrival in Italy dates back to 1965 with the opening of the Converting Factory in Rubiera (Reggio Emilia), the Group’s first outside Sweden. Since that time, Tetra Pak has revolutionized the food industry, particularly through the introduction of aseptic packaging, which has ensured safety and quality in the production and distribution of food.
Today, Italy is one of Tetra Pak’s main markets globally. The company has 1,700 collaborators, five operating offices (Rubiera, Modena, Sezzadio, Ambivere, Monza) and localized production that serves almost 60 million consumers with 5.2 billion packs distributed every year to over 120 clientsi.
Sustainability and research: investments at the center of the strategy
Innovation and sustainability are the pillars of Tetra Pak’s strategic vision. The Group invests around 100 million euros annually in Research and Development (R&D) to create more sustainable solutions. R&D projects are focused on reducing the use of aluminum, the integration of materials from renewable sources and the use of FSC certified paper. Currently, on average, beverage cartons are made up of 75% paper from certified sources, with the ambition to further increase this percentage.
On the circularity front, the commitment is tangible: Tetra Pak invests over 40 million euros per year in the recycling chain to contribute to achieving the European objective of 70% cardboard recycling by 2030. The company actively supports initiatives to increase separate waste collection and the development of the recycled materials market, both for the cellulosic component and for polyAl (aluminium and plastic).
In addition to packaging solutions, Tetra Pak provides expertise and technologies throughout the supply chain. In Italy, the company has installed over 500 packaging plants and 120 treatment plants. Among the plant innovations aimed at reducing environmental impact, the Water Filtering Station stands out, a technology that allows water consumption to be reduced by up to 95% in the filling lines.
Paolo Maggi, President and MD Tetra Pak South Europe
On the sidelines of the internal celebrations and with the 150 customers, held at the Converting Factory in Rubiera, the company top management reiterated the vision for the future.
Paolo Maggi, President and Managing Director Tetra Pak South Europe, expressed the Group’s determination: “Celebrating this anniversary means looking forward with renewed determination. Our goal is to continue to be a strategic partner for the Italian agri-food supply chain, strengthening collaboration with all players in the sector and contributing to the shared objectives of growth and sustainability”.
Federico Mazza, Director of the Converting Factory of Rubiera, underlined the crucial role of the plant: “Rubiera represents a unique ecosystem, where innovation and operations coexist every day. Here we build the future, investing in safety, quality, customer service and people, who are the real engine of our growth”.