After years of collaboration, Nissha Metallizing Solutions (NMS) and Tetra Pak have achieved a groundbreaking milestone in food and drink packaging: the world’s first aseptic beverage carton with a paper-based barrier.
“We are extremely proud of this achievement. Our joint effort to develop this solution supports the journey of increasing paper content and reducing carbon emissions in aseptic beverage cartons. Our paper-based solution offers barrier properties that help the package to deliver comparable shelf life and food protection as traditional aseptic cartons for liquid dairy products, such as milk,” says Giorgio Bosso, CEO, NMS.
NMS provides a diverse portfolio of paper-based solutions classified as recyclable, renewable, and mono-material. The company sources paper from FSC® (FSC-C109768) certified forests and other controlled origins, ensuring sustainability. These innovative solutions effectively protect against oxygen and light by employing various coatings. Given its renewable sourcing, paper can grow back and absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, thus contributing to environmental health. Furthermore, these products reduce dependence on non-renewable resources compared to the barrier layers found in traditional aseptic cartons.
Discussing the advantages of the new paper-based barrier, Marco Marchetti, Vice President of Packaging Materials and Sales Distribution Systems, Tetra Pak, states: “Tetra Pak has always believed in the power of paper, and now we’re taking that even further. Building on the high share of paper in our cartons today, the paper-based barrier pushes the paper content in our cartons to approximately 80% and, when combined with plant-based polymers, increases the total renewable content of a carton to 90% – cutting the carbon footprint by one-third (33%)1. The Tetra Brik® Aseptic 200 Slim Leaf carton with a paper-based barrier, which we launched with a leading dairy producer in Portugal in November 2023, demonstrates how the paper-based barrier can pave the way towards tomorrow’s low carbon circular economy for packaging.”
Looking downstream, the benefits of the paper-based barrier extend beyond just production. Cartons with a higher fiber yield are likely to attract more interest from paper mills. This innovative paper-based barrier not only enhances recyclability but also simplifies the material structure of the carton, reducing it from three materials to just two: paper and polymers. This shift represents a significant opportunity to enhance recycling infrastructures and boost their efficiency.
“The project carried out in cooperation with Tetra Pak perfectly mirrors Nissha’s and Nissha Group’s values and strategic pillars. With social responsibility and product innovation at its core, Nissha has always been committed to anticipating market trends and to developing solutions in cooperation with its customers to help them thrive in an increasingly competitive and sustainability-savvy market,” concludes Giorgio Bosso.
For more information about Nissha Metallizing and their contributions to food and drink sustainable packaging, please visit www.nisshametallizing.com.
