Tetra Pak claims fibre-based alternative is a packaging first
30 May 2022
Tetra Pak is testing a fibre-based barrier that it claims as a first for food carton packages distributed under ambient conditions, with a pilot batch on shelf for a commercial consumer test and further technology validation scheduled later in 2022.
The company said it is moving towards developing an aseptic package that is fully renewable, fully recyclable and carbon-neutral. The aluminium layer currently used in food carton packages plays a critical role in ensuring food safety; and even though it is thinner than a human hair, it contributes to a third of the green-house gas emissions linked to base materials used by Tetra Pak.
Vice president materials and package Eva Gustavsson said: “Addressing complex issues such as climate change and circularity requires transformational innovation. This is why we collaborate not just with our customers and suppliers, but also with an ecosystem of start-ups, universities and tech companies, providing us access to cutting edge competences, technologies and manufacturing facilities.
“We are investing €100 million per year and will continue to do so over the next five to 10 years to further enhance the environmental profile of food cartons, including the research and development of packages that are made with a simplified material structure and increased renewable content.”
