Tetra Pak, in partnership with Spanish beverage producer García Carrión, has launched the world’s first aseptic juice carton using a paper-based barrier. The 200 ml Tetra Brik® Aseptic Slim Leaf carton is being rolled out under García Carrión’s Don Simón brand and marks a new development in food packaging material aimed at reducing the use of fossil-based components.
The new packaging, now available in Spain and other markets, is composed of up to 80% paper. Including the plant-based polymer coatings, the renewable content increases to 92%. According to verification by the Carbon Trust, this innovation cuts the carbon footprint by 43% compared to traditional aseptic packaging that uses aluminium foil and fossil-based polymers.
Don José García Carrión, President of García Carrión, said: “We are proud to lead the way in sustainable packaging for the juice category.” Fala Corujo, Vice President of García Carrión, added: “This innovation supports our mission to reduce environmental impact while offering high-quality products to our consumers.”
Tetra Pak’s paper-based barrier replaces the aluminium layer in traditional cartons, offering protection against oxygen, light, moisture, and bacteria, while maintaining product shelf life. The packaging is compatible with existing recycling systems where infrastructure is available, and it may improve material recovery in the recycling process.
The development follows Tetra Pak’s 2023 pilot launch of this barrier with a dairy company in Portugal. The packaging was recognised with the “Resource Efficiency” award at the Sustainable Packaging News Awards 2024.