With a 44-year legacy in Saudi Arabia, Tetra Pak’s contributions extend far beyond packaging solutions. From boosting the Kingdom’s economy and strengthening its export power to driving sustainability through circularity — Tetra Pak moves the dial on the region’s sustainability efforts and plays a key role in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
As Saudi Arabia strides toward Vision 2030, Tetra Pak, the world’s leading food processing and packaging solutions company, collaborates with local entities to help drive the Kingdom — and the region — toward further economic diversification while adopting more sustainable practices. And, who better to lead this admirable mission toward a circular economy than a company deeply rooted in Saudi Arabia since 1980? Tetra Pak’s current campaign “Made, consumed and recycled in Saudi,” is an ode to Tetra Pak’s legacy in the Kingdom while showcasing the company as an industry first-mover, creating a ripple effect in the region’s economic landscape.
Tetra Pak’s economic footprint in Saudi Arabia is substantial, contributing millions of dollars annually as over 80 percent of businesses of all sizes in the F&B industry rely on Tetra Pak’s products, processing equipment and expertise to enhance their footprint in the F&B industry and provide consumers with the latest innovative food products. The inception of Tetra Pak’s production factories in Jeddah in 1998 has witnessed the production of an average of 165 billion carton packaging products in the Kingdom, providing safe and nutritious food products to millions of households, without the need for refrigeration or preservatives.
Beyond the Saudi economy, Tetra Pak’s exports of top quality carton packaging products further the movement of products made in Saudi Arabia, trusted in the Middle East. Tetra Pak exports 40 percent of its Saudi-made products produced at the Jeddah factories to 11 countries in the Middle East region, reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a packaging and manufacturing hub and furthering the bounds of Saudi Arabia’s regional influence while reflecting Tetra Pak’s commitment to advancing regional exports and trade.
Customers in the F&B industry who chose Tetra Pak’s Saudi-made products for their food packaging requirements are championing products that are locally produced in the Kingdom. And by producing Saudi-made products, TetraPak is supporting customers run shorter production lead times, which enhances their supply chain operations and makes them more resilient in the face of any logistical disruptions that the region can go through.
Also, when locally produced products are being leveraged, business continuity becomes more robust as food products are always delivered on time, further strengthening the go-to-market efforts of customers and enhancing food security levels in the Kingdom.
“We are deeply invested in the growth and development of Saudi Arabia’s food packaging industry, contributing strongly to the economic diversification of the local economy in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and equally committed to enhancing the nation’s food security levels,” said Sultan Al-Taifi, sales director and Arabic spokesperson, TetraPak Arabia Area.
An area where Tetra Pak is catalyzing change is in circularity. Imagine sitting at the corniche, sipping a cold juice. When you finish your drink what do you do with the empty carton? How does your next move impact the very environment you’re enjoying? These are the questions Tetra Pak encourages us to consider, empowering a shift in perspective — viewing waste as a valuable resource rather than a liability.
In 2023, Tetra Pak launched a major initiative in collaboration with Obeikan Paper Industries and Saudi Top Plastics, investing $3 million in setting up carton package recycling infrastructure. Marking a milestone in the region’s recycling efforts, the two facilities in Saudi Arabia are capable of recycling up to 8,000 tons of carton packages annually. Reflecting Tetra Pak’s commitment to enhancing circularity in the Kingdom, this effort provides customers with a complete recycling solution for post-consumed carton packages, while catering to the ambitions of the Saudi Green Initiative.
“Our people at Tetra Pak are at the heart of everything we do. Our current Saudization percentage, which stands at 31 percent across our workforce in the Middle East region, is a vivid demonstration of Tetra Pak’s commitment to supporting local talent in Saudi Arabia with empowering career opportunities,” added Al-Taifi.
Tetra Pak’s “Made, consumed and recycled in Saudi” campaign powerfully demonstrates the company’s economic impact that has transformed Saudi Arabia to a strategic exports hub for the food packaging and manufacturing industry, while also highlighting the company’s unwavering commitment to sustainability. Through substantial economic contributions, export strategies, and pioneering recycling initiatives, Tetra Pak reinforces its position as a leader in the Kingdom’s packaging and manufacturing landscape. As Saudi Arabia continues to evolve under Vision 2030, Tetra Pak remains a dedicated ally, supporting the Kingdom’s goals for economic diversification and sustainability.
