Assessment of Carbon Neutrality in the Production and Distribution of Water in Carton Packaging: A Comparative Supplier Analysis

This thesis focuses on the assessment of carbon neutrality in the production and distribution of water packaged in carton-based containers. The aim was to compare the environmental impact of two leading beverage carton producers – Tetra Pak and Elopak – with a particular emphasis on CO₂ emissions generated during the production, transportation, and end-of-life phases of the packaging. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards, was applied to comprehensively evaluate each phase of the product life cycle. The results show that Tetra Pak’s packaging exhibits a lower overall carbon footprint, especially due to the significant net reduction in CO₂ emissions during the end-of-life phase, where material recycling contributes to a savings of approximately 1.15 tonnes of CO₂ per year. In contrast, Elopak generates approximately 1.03 tonnes of CO₂ in the same phase. This difference is primarily due to variations in material composition and recyclability of packaging components. In terms of transportation, Tetra Pak benefits from more efficient logistics and optimized distribution routes. Based on the analysis, several recommendations were proposed to further reduce emissions. These include increasing recycling rates, investing in innovative materials, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and implementing circular economy models. The conclusions of this study offer valuable insights not only for packaging manufacturers, but also for companies seeking sustainable solutions for water packaging.