'Your World Needs You'

Online, April 30, 2010 (Newswire.com) - 30 April 2010: Tetra Pak UK and WWF-UK have today launched a nationwide search for ideas aimed at harnessing the nation's 'green' intentions and translating them into action.

New research commissioned by Tetra Pak, has revealed that whilst 82% of UK adults believe their individual actions can make some difference to the environment, these are not reflected in food shopping habits where green credentials come 4th on the list of product criteria below quality, value and special offers.

Tetra Pak and WWF-UK have today also launched a three year partnership. As the planet's resources continue to deplete, the partnership aims to raise the awareness and understanding of renewability*, and the importance of choosing goods made from responsibly managed renewable sources, so that we can have these resources for many years to come.

'Your Renewable Idea' calls for ideas and solutions which will encourage everyone to buy goods made from renewable sources, such as responsibly managed forests. Ideas to change people's habits and lifestyles - no matter how large or small - can be submitted online via www.renewableidea.co.uk for a public vote. Up to £25,000 will go towards making the winning idea a reality, with the support of Tetra Pak and WWF-UK.

For every vote and idea submitted, Tetra Pak will donate 10p and £1 respectively, to WWF-UK. The funds generated will support a project to help conserve the forest habitat of a number of rare species including the Persian leopard and other important conservation projects.

The survey of 2,170 adults, commissioned by Tetra Pak, revealed that from a given list, value for money (97%), good quality (96%), and special offers (86%) are the most important factors when shopping for food. Environmentally friendly (61%) and fair-trade/ethical (56%) credentials came 4th and 5th, followed by brand recognition (50%) and innovation (28%). The research also found that, whilst 80% of adults claimed to know what a renewable resource is, just over half (55%) accurately identified the definition.
Tetra Pak UK's Director of Environment and Communications, Rupert Maitland-Titterton said: "It's encouraging that so many people have good green intentions, but no surprise that consumers rate value for money and quality above environmental credentials in the current economic climate. As the economy improves we'd hope to see that change, but in the meantime we have a job to do in encouraging people to translate their belief into action. Making the right choices does not always have to cost more - cartons are a great example of this - so people can start today. Our partnership with WWF aims to help people understand what renewable means, why it matters and how they really can make a difference. And we are calling for ideas - anything from an inventive shoppers' loyalty scheme, an iPhone app that gives you a personal 'renewability rating' or a children's education programme - to help solve this challenge together."

WWF-UK's Forest & Trade Network manager, Julia Young commented:
"The Russian Caucasus boasts a unique mixture of species yet has a worrying lack of sustainable forest management. To date, WWF has undertaken limited work in the region, yet it is one of our priority habitats in Russia, so this competition will help generate vital funding for the start of work there. Tetra Pak has committed to support the growth of FSC forest management in critical forest habitats, and together we are aiming to raise awareness of the need to manage production of forests as renewable resources to pro-vide economic, social and environmental benefits for the foreseeable future."

Naturalist and TV wildlife presenter, Steve Backshall, who is giving his support to the campaign, said: "We've got just one planet, bursting with people - twice as many now as when my folks were kids. We all use an incredible amount of stuff, and when we're done with it, it gets dumped. Would anybody out there look forward to a future of vast overflowing landfills, oceans filled with floating plastic, desperate plans to bury trash or fire it into space?! Of course not. Well there is one simple phrase you can start off with. Renewability: the fourth R. Reduce, reuse, recycle, choose renewable... supporting Tetra Pak's campaign with WWF-UK is the perfect way to get started!"

-Ends-

Note to editors

• For further information, interviews and photography please contact Alex Pearmain, Katie Shaw or Melissa Annetts on 020 7839 4321 or [email protected].
• All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2170 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 1st and 6th April 2010. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).
• Entries submitted for the 'Your Renewable Idea' competition via www.renewableidea.co.uk, will go to public vote, on the website. The ideas with the most votes will be reviewed by a panel of judges to select the overall winner. The winner will receive £1,000 and up to £25,000 will go towards making the winning idea a reality with the support of Tetra Pak and WWF-UK. The competition is open for entries until 31st October 2010 and for voting until 30th November 2010. For further information visit www.renewableidea.co.uk.
• Social media will play a key part in how Tetra Pak and WWF-UK spread the word about the campaign - follow them on Facebook (http://bit.ly/cPi7yW) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/renewableidea)

About Tetra Pak
Tetra Pak packaging solutions are made primarily (on average 73%) from a natural, renewable resource - wood in the form of paperboard - and over 1.5 billion of its cartons in the UK and Ireland are made using FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified board. Cartons are also widely recyclable across the UK. Tetra Pak is a member of the WWF's Climate Savers Programme and has an overall goal of reducing its total carbon emissions by 10% by the end of 2010.

Tetra Pak is the world's leading food processing and packaging solutions company. Working closely with our customers and suppliers, we provide safe, innovative and environmentally sound products that each day meet the needs of hundreds of millions of people in more than 170 countries around the world. With almost 22,000 employees based in over 85 countries, we believe in responsible industry leadership and a sustainable approach to business. Our motto, "PROTECTS WHAT'S GOOD™," reflects our vision to make food safe and available, everywhere.

More information about Tetra Pak is available at www.tetrapak.com

About WWF
WWF-UK is the UK arm of the WWF Network, the world's leading environmental organisation founded in 1961 and now active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. Using its unique combination of practical experience, knowledge and credibility, WWF-UK's 300-strong staff work with governments, businesses and communities both here in the UK and around the world so that people and nature thrive within their fair share of the planet's natural resources.

WWF engages all kinds of business sectors in different ways to drive climate-safe business models and to accelerate moves towards a low-carbon economy. WWF's partnerships with many businesses seek to play a part in tackling climate change. WWF also has various initiatives with different business sectors looking at opportunities within low-carbon finance, carbon savings through better food consumption and production, energy services models within the power sector, and the provision of more sustainable mobility.

*About renewable resources
Renewable resources are natural resources that, if looked after properly, can be managed to supply our demand for resources at a sustainable rate - so those resources consumed are replaced. Renewable resources include sources of energy that are in infinite supply that we can keep using without risk of running out, such as solar radiation, tides and wind.

Commodities like paper, wood, cotton and wool are also renewable so long as they are managed in a sustainable way. Products that are made from these renewable materials include furniture, fences and out-buildings, books, building materials clothing and cartons.

Benefits of using renewable resources, for example good forest management, include helping provide livelihoods for people who depend on them as well as looking after the environment, its biodiversity and other vital resources such as water and soil quality.