Tetra Pak launches world first paper based barrier for juice packaging

Tetra Pak, in collaboration with García Carrión, has unveiled the first ever use of its paper based barrier technology for juice packaging. This innovation in sustainable food packaging solutions marks a significant step towards reducing reliance on fossil based materials, with the new packaging material now being rolled out across multiple markets.

The company, together with leading Spanish beverage producer García Carrión, has launched the Tetra Brik Aseptic 200 ml Slim Leaf carton featuring a paper based barrier for juice, under the flagship Don Simón brand. This is the first juice portion pack globally to use the innovative barrier and the first such package available in Spain. 

Made with up to 80% paper, the packaging reinforces its sustainability credentials. The combination of the paper based barrier with plant based polymers used in the packaging material coatings, pushes the renewable content to a remarkable 92%, while reducing the carbon footprint by 43% compared with an aseptic package that uses aluminium foil layer and fossil based polymers, as verified by the Carbon Trust. 

‘We are proud to lead the way in sustainable packaging for the juice category. For more than 135 years, García Carrión has been committed to responsible innovation and respect for the environment,’ said Don José García Carrión, president of García Carrión. 

‘This innovation supports our mission to reduce environmental impact while offering high quality products to our consumers,’ added Fala Corujo, vice president of García Carrión.

For the juice manufacturer, this packaging solution represents a new industrial application of its 360° Sustainability Strategy, recognised with the Factories of the Future Award 2024 for Excellence in Sustainability and Circular Economy. 

Tatiana Liceti, executive vice president, packaging solutions at Tetra Pak, commented: ‘This launch represents a significant step in our journey towards fully renewable and recyclable packaging. By working closely with our customers, we are proving that sustainable innovation can scale across markets and categories, while ensuring packaging retains its functionality and quality.’

Tetra Pak’s paper based barrier is a breakthrough in aseptic carton design. It replaces the traditional aluminium foil layer with a renewable, paper based barrier, promoting the shift from a fossil based material to a low carbon, renewable alternative and reducing package’s carbon footprint. Together with other layers in the packaging, the paper based barrier protects against oxygen, light, moisture and bacteria ensuring food safety is not compromised, and shelf life is comparable to packages with the aluminium foil layer. Aseptic cartons with a new paper based barrier can be collected, sorted, and recycled where recycling infrastructure is in place, at scale. The new paper based barrier is expected to deliver additional benefits downstream for recycling infrastructure efficiency. These include maximising the recovery of paper content from the recycling process of carton packages, while ensuring high quality fibre and non fibre fractions.

Tetra Pak’s paper based barrier technology is part of its broader ambition to create the world’s most sustainable food package – one that is paper based, made solely from responsibly sourced renewable or recycled materials, has the lowest possible carbon footprint and is fully recyclable.

Tetra Pak’s aseptic beverage carton with a paper based barrier was launched in collaboration with a dairy company in Portugal in 2023.