Tetra Pak has introduced what it describes as the world’s first paper-based barrier technology for juice packaging, positioning the development as a milestone in the transition toward renewable materials. The launch has been carried out in partnership with García Carrión, Spain’s largest juice producer, which is now rolling out the new Tetra Brik Aseptic 200ml Slim Leaf carton across several markets.
According to the companies, the new structure is made with up to 80% paper and reaches 92% renewable content when plant-based polymers are included. The packaging has been verified by the Carbon Trust, which confirmed a 43% reduction in carbon footprint compared to standard aseptic formats that use aluminium barriers and fossil-derived polymers.
Don José García Carrión, president of García Carrión, stated: “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.” He added that the development “supports our mission to reduce environmental impact while offering high-quality products to our consumers”.
The launch forms part of García Carrión’s broader environmental agenda, which includes its 360° Sustainability Strategy. The company recently received the Factories of the Future Award 2024 for Excellence in Sustainability and Circular Economy.
Tetra Pak said the paper-based barrier replaces the aluminium foil layer traditionally used in aseptic carton structures, enabling a step-change in renewable content while preserving performance requirements for food safety and shelf life. The barrier is designed to protect against oxygen, light, moisture and bacteria, maintaining parity with existing formats.
Tatiana Liceti, executive vice president of 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’re proving that sustainable innovation can scale across markets and categories, while ensuring packaging retains its functionality and quality.”
The packaging has been designed for recyclability and can be collected and sorted where infrastructure exists. According to Tetra Pak, the simplified material structure is expected to support higher-quality fibre recovery and more efficient processing of non-fibre fractions.
