Tetra Pak commercialises paper-based ice-cream wrapping solution

SWEDEN – Tetra Pak has introduced Tetra Pak Ice Cream Wrap, a paper-based packaging format developed for the ice-cream industry and validated with European producers ahead of a planned phased launch from the fourth quarter of 2026.

The material contains as much as 85 percent paper from forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and from other controlled sources. 

Tetra Pak said the format combines the appearance of paper with the performance required for ice-cream products. 

Its slim construction and multilayer design are intended to protect the product while limiting material use, an approach that reduces packaging weight without sacrificing barrier function during cold-chain distribution.

Consumer Research Points to Sustainability Preference

The company presented the wrap against changing consumer preferences in the category.

Its research indicates that 24 percent of consumers worldwide regard sustainability as an important feature of ice-cream packaging, while 16 percent favour paper packaging for ice cream. 

These figures suggest a sizeable minority actively prioritise material choice, providing brands with a differentiation opportunity in a category where packaging has traditionally been dominated by plastic films and tubs.

Trials With Triumf Glass in Commercial Settings

Tetra Pak is currently validating the solution with producers in Europe. 

Trials with Triumf Glass, a Swedish ice-cream company, are taking place in commercial production settings and are being used to collect consumer feedback as well as assess performance. 

Running trials at commercial scale rather than in laboratory conditions tests whether the wrap maintains seal integrity, print quality and product protection across real filling speeds and freezer storage.

Leadership Frames Packaging as Brand Differentiator

Peter Lindstrom, vice-president for food solutions at Tetra Pak, said packaging was becoming a more important means for brands to distinguish themselves and address consumer expectations. 

He described the new format as offering producers another way to create a distinctive consumer experience while retaining the functional characteristics needed by ice-cream products. 

The company said the development draws on more than 70 years of experience in paper-based food packaging and knowledge of ice-cream production. 

It plans a staged commercial introduction in the fourth quarter of 2026, starting in Europe and later extending the offering to other markets, extending Tetra Pak’s paper-based packaging business into a new category.

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