Tetra Pak has allocated €60m ($71.2m) for the establishment of a new pilot facility in Lund, Sweden, focused on the advancement of paper-based barrier technology for aseptic beverage cartons.
This initiative will see the company replace the conventional aluminium foil layer with a paper-based alternative in its beverage packaging.
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The transition to this new barrier increases the proportion of paper in each carton to approximately 80%.
When paired with plant-derived polymers, this adjustment raises the renewable content of the packaging to as much as 92%.
According to Tetra Pak, this shift may lead to a reduction in carbon emissions of up to 43%.
Simplifying the material structure from three layers to two, paper and polymers, is also expected to support recycling efforts by making it easier to separate and recover high-quality material fractions.
Tetra Pak materials and package vice-president Joakim Tuvesson said: “By expanding our facilities and strengthening strategic partnerships, we aim to make our innovative paper-based barrier accessible to more customers, accelerating their transition to sustainable packaging materials.
“We look forward to starting production and welcoming first customers to the new pilot plant in the first quarter of 2027.”
The Lund site was selected for its strong academic links, particularly with Lund University, and access to research infrastructure such as the MAX IV Laboratory, noted the company.
The pilot plant will allow Tetra Pak’s customers to examine the new barrier solution through various production stages, from initial creation to final packaging.
This project is aligned with Tetra Pak’s broader plan to invest around €100m each year until 2030 in sustainable packaging technologies.
In 2023, Tetra Pak introduced its first aseptic carton using the paper-based barrier with a dairy company in Portugal.
Last month, the company launched a paper-based barrier for juice cartons in collaboration with Spain’s García Carrión.
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