Tetra Pak has introduced what it describes as the industry’s first carton packaging solution for shelf-stable tuna, marking a new development in the transition towards paper-based alternatives in the canned seafood sector.
The launch was achieved in collaboration with Spanish seafood producer Jealsa, which served as the industrial partner throughout the development, validation and commercialisation process. Jealsa supplied the tuna product, contributed to packaging development and conducted testing under real production and market conditions.
The product is packaged in Tetra Pak’s Tetra Recart® format and was launched in Sweden last month through retailer Axfood in a 200 ml mini pack format.
According to Tetra Pak, the new packaging offers a substantially lower environmental footprint compared with traditional packaging formats. The company states that Tetra Recart has an 85% lower carbon footprint than steel cans and an 83% lower carbon footprint than glass jars. The package also contains up to 71% FSC™-certified paper.
“With the industry’s first carton packaging for shelf-stable tuna in Tetra Recart, we are giving producers and brands a new way to stand out on the shelf, protect and grow their market share, modernize with a paper-based alternative to cans, and contribute to more sustainable food systems,” said Tatiana Liceti, Executive Vice President of Packaging Solutions at Tetra Pak.
Jealsa said the project combines new packaging technology with its expertise in seafood processing.
“Thanks to our collaboration with Tetra Pak, we have brought to market an innovative solution that combines modern packaging formats with our long-standing expertise in seafood products,” said Jesús M. Alonso Escurís, President of Jealsa.
Beyond sustainability considerations, Tetra Pak highlighted operational advantages associated with the carton format. The rectangular shape of Tetra Recart is designed to improve storage efficiency and simplify pick-and-pack operations, making it particularly suitable for e-commerce fulfilment, home delivery services and meal kit applications.
The launch represents another step in the expansion of carton-based packaging into food categories traditionally dominated by metal cans and glass containers, as packaging suppliers and food manufacturers seek alternatives that combine product protection, logistics efficiency and reduced environmental impact.
