SPAIN – Tetra Pak and Lactalis have introduced an innovative carton package incorporating certified recycled polymers derived from used beverage cartons, marking a first in the beverage carton industry and a major step toward a circular economy.

The recycled material, certified by ISCC PLUS, originates from used beverage cartons collected and processed in Spain.

The recycled polymers are integrated with a mix of recycled and virgin fossil-based feedstock using a mass balance attribution method.

This ensures a corresponding volume of recycled material is sourced and tracked through the supply chain, verified by a third-party auditor under ISCC Chain of Custody standards.

This chemical recycling approach preserves the package’s quality, safety, and functional properties, underscoring the circular potential of carton packaging.

This collaboration aligns with both companies’ shared sustainability goals. By maintaining the use of quality resources and reducing dependence on virgin fossil materials, Tetra Pak and Lactalis seek to enhance the environmental profile of their packaging.

Tetra Pak has committed to investing €100 million (US$108.42m) annually over the next five to ten years to support this shift.

Lactalis has made its global environmental priorities circular packaging, animal welfare, and decarbonization by 2050.

Joël Llovera, Purchasing Director of Lactalis Iberia, expressed, “Our partnership with Tetra Pak reflects a shared commitment to environmental stewardship and circularity.

“Transitioning to certified recycled polymers from fossil-based materials is a significant step toward our sustainability goals, rooted in a vision to benefit future generations.”

Marco Marchetti, Vice President of Packaging Materials, Sales, and Distribution Solutions at Tetra Pak, highlighted the broader need for industry collaboration, “To scale up the use of renewable and recycled resources, collective action across sectors, coupled with enabling legislation, is essential.

“Our collaboration with Lactalis demonstrates how innovation and partnerships can accelerate circularity, turning waste into resources and reducing dependency on virgin materials.”

The first application of this new packaging is for Lactalis’s Puleva dairy range in Spain. Products such as calcium-enriched, skimmed, semi-skimmed, whole, and lactose-free milk are now packaged in Tetra Brik Aseptic 1000 Slim cartons with the HeliCap 23 Pro closure.

Following the successful market introduction of Puleva’s recycled-polymer packaging, Lactalis plans to gradually extend this packaging innovation across its dairy portfolio, responding to consumer demand for more sustainable products.

According to recent Tetra Pak research, 78% of consumers express concern about plastic waste, and 29% report an increased preference for products packaged in recycled materials.

With this initiative, Tetra Pak and Lactalis are leading the way in sustainable packaging by supporting circular economy principles, addressing consumer expectations, and setting a new standard for the dairy industry.

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