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Tetra Pak has expanded its homogenizer portfolio by introducing machines crafted with Outokumpu Circle Green stainless steel, a material recognised for its reduced carbon footprint compared to traditional stainless steel options.
This material boasts a carbon footprint up to 93% lower compared to the global industry average for stainless steel. The incorporation of Circle Green stainless steel aligns with Tetra Pak's commitment to sustainability and will be available as an option for all homogenizer models in Europe starting June, with a global rollout planned later this year.
The steel industry accounts for approximately 7% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions, making innovation in materials crucial for reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions. In the food and beverage industry, homogenization is a critical process for products ranging from dairy beverages to table sauces.
Tetra Pak's new homogenizers present F&B manufacturers with a pathway to decrease their Scope 3 emissions – a challenging aspect of achieving net-zero emissions goals. Depending on the model, the utilisation of Circle Green stainless steel can reduce CO₂ emissions by 160kg to 1370kg per machine.
This work with Outokumpu marks the onset of a partnership aimed at exploring further applications of Circle Green across Tetra Pak's equipment portfolio. The collaboration seeks to assist F&B manufacturers in achieving their sustainability objectives and ensuring compliance with evolving environmental regulations.
The homogenizer range launch represents Tetra Pak's latest endeavour toward achieving net-zero emissions across the value chain by 2050. It forms part of a broader suite of solutions designed to adopt a holistic approach to F&B manufacturers' emissions, addressing emissions involved in equipment manufacture while optimising energy, water and cleaning-in-place processes. Niklas Wass, executive vice president for Stainless Europe at Outokumpu, said: “Low-emission stainless steel is at the heart of sustainability solutions across the world. It plays a pivotal role in accelerating the green transition, and the food and beverage industry is a good example of where low-emission steel can have a significant impact.”
He continued: “We are proud to partner with Tetra Pak on this transformative initiative and look forward to delivering and developing sustainable solutions that facilitate the decarbonisation across the value chain. The cooperation with both companies is a concrete action towards reducing emissions in manufacturing”.
Fiona Liebehenz, vice president of Key Components Plant Solutions and Channel Management at Tetra Pak, added: “Innovation sits at the heart of our philosophy as a business and our approach to sustainability. The incorporation of Circle Green into our product portfolio is an important step in leveraging the latest innovations to improve our upstream emissions, whilst also helping to reduce emissions at customer sites.”