Denmark-based dairy company Arla Foods has entered into a formal partnership with sustainable startup Blue Ocean Closures to create fibre-based caps for Arla’s milk cartons. The company says this will enable it to minimize plastic usage by more than 500 tonnes per annum. As part of this joint effort, Blue Ocean Closures will utilize funding from Arla to first develop a fully functional prototype of the fibre-based caps, followed by the testing phase, all of which are expected to be completed at the start of next year. ALPLA Group, part owner of Blue Ocean Closures, will also be involved in the technical development process of this project.
ALPLA Corporate Research, Development and Innovation Christian Zmölnig director said: “As part of ALPLA’s important strategic development in the circular economy, we see great potential in this collaboration between Arla and Blue Ocean Closures.” The latest effort is also in line with the dairy cooperative’s sustainable packaging strategy, under which it aims to eliminate the use of fossil-based virgin plastic for the production of its products’ packaging by 2030.