Tetra Pak has collaborated with a leading company in the European juices, nectars and soft drinks markets to launch the new Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 300 Edge beverage carton. This innovative portion package stands out on the shelf, with its distinct look and ergonomic design catering to the preference of modern consumers for taller, slimmer packaging. Research1 shows that, with buyers rethinking discretionary spending, a ‘less is more’ design approach is gaining in popularity, characterised by pared back simplicity. Designed for ease of use, the shape of the new paper-based carton package also makes it more comfortable to hold, particularly for smaller hands. Its wide opening ensures a steady flow for easy drinking, while its compact size makes it convenient for on-the-go consumption.
Product wastage is minimised by combining the slanted top of the Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 300 Edge carton with a DreamCap™ 26 Pro tethered closure. This helps to prevent litter too, as the cap stays attached to the package; therefore, it can be collected alongside the carton once consumers have enjoyed their drink and put the container in the correct bin for recycling.
In addition, the leading European juice brand opted for increasing the renewable share of material in the package to over 85 %, and this translated to reducing the carbon footprint of this carton by 76 %.2 This is achieved by combining paperboard from forests certified to Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™) and other controlled sources with plant-based polymers, derived from responsibly sourced sugarcane. Its reduced climate impact is set to appeal to young consumers, who are more likely to make environmentally conscious purchasing decisions (as found in research from Harvard Business Review).3
The Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 300 Edge is ideal for a wide range of on-the-go beverages, including dairy, juices and functional drinks. Available on the latest Tetra Pak® A3/CompactFlex filling machine, as well as on existing lines through a simple, cost-efficient upgrade, it brings the packaging configurations4 on a single filling machine to five. This versatility enables a quick switching between different packaging sizes and different opening systems, optimising production efficiency5 and broadening the range of on-the-go offerings. The latter helps food and beverage (F&B) brands to select the package that best matches specific consumption needs, therefore, attracting an even wider audience.
When it comes to transportation, the taller and slimmer shape of the package means it is possible to fit around the same number of litres and up to 10 % more packages per pallet,6 meaning fewer shipments while delivering more product.
Francesco Faella, Vice President Business Sector Ambient, Tetra Pak, comments: “By collaborating with a leading European juice brand and launching the Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 300 Edge, we are answering the industry’s call for added flexibility and stylish design options to help brands stand out on the shelf. Importantly, we are doing this while also addressing consumer preferences and expectations. Based on our recent global research7, environmental concerns remain high for 76 % of respondents, with over 60 % choosing products that have environmentally sound packaging in a bid to protect future generations and one fifth showing preference for containers made of renewable materials.”
1Tetra Pak-WGSN Design Trend Forecast 2023-2024 2Source: Carbon Trust™-verified Tetra Pak ‘Carton CO2 Calculator’ model version 10 (valid from April 2024). Scope: cradle-to-grave measurement of a Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 300 Edge carton with plant-based packaging materials and additional materials (i.e. cap) compared to a standard Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 300 Edge with fossil-based plastic. Geography: EU Industry data. For more information, visit carbontrust.com/tetrapak 3https://hbr.org/2023/09/research-consumers-sustainability-demands-are-rising 4The five packaging configurations include the following: Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 200 Edge with straw; Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 200 Edge with DreamCap™ 26 closure or DreamCap™ 26 Pro tethered closure; Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 250 Edge with straw; Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 250 Edge with DreamCap™ 26 closure or DreamCap™ 26 Pro tethered closure; Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 300 Edge with DreamCap™ 26 closure or DreamCap™ 26 Pro tethered closure. 5Addition of three formats in Quick Change, with Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 200 Edge and Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 250 Edge, hence improved flexibility and efficiency when compared with Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 330 Square. 6Compared with the Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 330 package in EU pallet with WASF open ends. 7Tetra Pak’s latest Sustainable Packaging consumer research, run in 2023, comprised a total of 14,500 consumer interviews based on an online questionnaire in 29 markets: Germany, France, UK, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, South Africa, Egypt, China, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, South Korea, Vietnam, Brazil, USA, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina.
Following successful commercial consumer testing in 2022, Tetra Pak and Lactogal have now launched an aseptic beverage carton featuring a paper-based barrier. This is part of a large-scale technology validation, involving around 25 million packages and currently ongoing in Portugal. Made of approximately 80 % paperboard, the package increases the renewable content to 90 %, reduces its carbon footprint by one third (33 %1) and has been certified as Carbon Neutral by the Carbon Trust™.2
Greenhouse gas emissions, food waste and plastic littering are cited as the top three environmental sustainability concerns facing food and beverage (F&B) businesses today, and this is expected to remain the case over the next five years.3 Packaging solutions like these, that expand the amount of paper and lower the carbon footprint, while ensuring food safety, can help the industry overcome these challenges.
In 2015, Tetra Pak was the first in the industry to introduce a package made fully from plant-based renewable materials – paperboard and sugarcane-based plastic. The Tetra Rex® Plant-based package, suitable for cold chain distribution, is fully renewable, and the company has delivered approximately 6.5 billion of these packages to customers around the world to date.
Now, the launch of the Tetra Brik® Aseptic 200 Slim Leaf carton with paper-based barrier, together with Lactogal, provides a package that can be distributed under ambient conditions, while hitting the 90% renewable content mark. This brings Tetra Pak one step closer to its ambition of a beverage carton made solely from responsibly sourced renewable or recycled materials, fully recyclable and carbon neutral. The company is aiming for industrial scale production of the solution by 2025.
1Certified by the Carbon Trust™ – benchmark: Tetra Brik® Aseptic 200 Slim Leaf carton package with aluminium foil layer. 2“Carbon neutral” means that, after reducing the CO2 emissions by converting the package’s fossil-based polymers into plant-based polymers to the highest possible extent, the residual CO2 emissions associated with the packaging manufacture are offset by funding Gold Standard-certified climate projects around the world. 3Tetra Pak B2B research on Planetary Challenges and their impact on F&B manufacturers’ operations (2023).
SIG will construct its first aseptic carton plant in India, the world’s largest milk market, and one of the largest juice producing countries globally. The plant will be in Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat. SIG entered the Indian market in 2018 and has seen a rapid expansion of its business. The plant will supply its growing filler base, which now serves all leading dairy and non-carbonated soft drink players.
The investment will cover state-of-the art production capacity, for the printing and finishing of aseptic carton packs with high environmental standards. Construction will commence in Q1 2023, and commercial production is expected towards the end of 2024. Phase one of construction is expected to create around 300 jobs.
SIG will invest approximately EUR 60 million over the period 2023–2025, to reach production capacity of up to 4 billion packs per annum. Subsequent investments could increase capacity up to 10 billion packs per annum. Land and buildings will be financed through a long-term lease with an NPV of approximately EUR 30 million.
SIG announced another industry first for responsible sourcing by purchasing 100 % of the aluminium for SIG aseptic carton packs with certification to the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) standards globally from January 2023. SIG is the only packaging provider to offer aseptic cartons with ASI-certified aluminium and enable customers to include the ASI label on its packs.
SIG has led the way in offering the world’s first packaging materials without an aluminium layer for aseptic cartons since 2010, including a full barrier solution without an aluminium layer launched in 2022. But these are not yet available in all formats and many of SIG’s aseptic carton packs still require an ultra-thin layer of aluminium foil to protect the food inside.
Through ASI certification, SIG is demonstrating its commitment to source aluminium for its packs responsibly. ASI sets leading standards for responsible aluminium production and sourcing, covering a broad range of ethical, environmental and social topics, including specific limits on carbon emissions in the production of aluminium.
By requiring all its aluminium suppliers to meet ASI standards, SIG is helping to improve performance in supply chains and drive lower-carbon aluminium production. This in turn supports reductions in the value chain carbon footprint for SIG and its customers.
SIG announced a BRL 10 million investment in innovative recycling technology that will enable polymers and aluminium from used aseptic carton packs to be recovered and sold separately for the first time on an industrial scale in Brazil. By expanding the range of applications for recycled materials from used aseptic cartons, SIG expects to increase their value by more than 50 %.
Innovative recycling technology
The renewable paper board that makes up around 75 % of aseptic carton packs on average can be separated for recycling in paper mills through Brazil’s existing recycling infrastructure. The polyethylene and aluminium mix (polyaluminium or PolyAl) left over from this process can be recycled into a robust material for purposes such as roofing, pallets and furniture.
SIG’s recycling plant will use innovative technology that makes it possible to separate the polyethylene from the aluminium in PolyAl to create a wider market and demand for these recycled materials. Developed over five years with project partner ECS Consulting, the new technology has already undergone a pilot project that proved the effectiveness of the chemical recycling process.
The new recycling plant is currently in construction in the state of Paraná. It is expected to begin operating in 2024 with an initial production capacity of 200 tonnes per month. Together with industry partners, SIG has also invested in a plant in Germany to separate polymers and aluminium from PolyAl that went into production in 2021.
Ethical collection programmes
Investing in new technology to create a wider market for recycled materials is an important step in increasing recycling rates for used aseptic cartons. SIG has already led the way with innovative programmes to support two other important steps: collection of used packaging from consumers and separation of that packaging to go into the right recycling streams.
SIG’s so+ma vantagens programme, run in partnership with NGO so+ma since 2018, enables people in underprivileged communities to collect loyalty points for bringing in waste for recycling. The points can then be exchanged for rewards, such as essential food products and skills training. SIG is now expanding this model to promote recycling and bring additional societal benefits to further municipalities in Brazil and beyond.
SIG also promotes public policies for selective waste collection in Brazil, and supports effective infrastructure and decent working conditions for waste collectors’ cooperatives as a seed investor in the Recicleiros Cidades programme. Set up with NGO Recicleiros in 2018, the programme is now operational in 13 municipalities and aims to reach 60 by 2027.
In Egypt, SIG is launching ‘Recycle for Good’, an innovative recycling initiative to enable direct household and food service industry collection of used aseptic carton packs through tech-based solutions. This initiative involving SIG and Tagaddod is the first of its kind in the Egyptian market.
Consumers can use a mobile app to arrange for their used cartons to be collected from their homes or workplace in exchange for rewards. The project aims to incentivise recycling of used beverage cartons, ensuring high-value resources remain in circulation while benefitting local communities.
SIG is working with Tagaddod on this project. They are leading the collection of the cartons. Tagaddod is the first company in Egypt to enable direct household and food service industry waste collection through tech-based solutions. Its app allows consumers and businesses in the food service industry to arrange collection of their used beverage cartons in exchange for rewards. The initiative uses Tagaddod’s existing logistics network, and household brand Green Pan to collect the cartons.
Recycling SIG carton packs keeps high-quality renewable materials in circulation for longer. All the materials used to make aseptic carton packs – paperboard, aluminium and polyethylene – can be recycled as valuable resources that can be used to create new products.
Only around 60% of the waste Egypt generates annually is collected currently, and less than 20% of this is properly disposed of or recycled. With no segregation of waste at household level, there is a huge need for collection initiatives such as this one.
SIG is committed to partnering with others to increase the collection and recycling of used beverage cartons, supporting the shift towards a circular economy. Recycling of packaging is an industrywide issue, and SIG partners on this with many different stakeholders, including industry peers, customers, consumers, and national and local governments. As recycling rates, regulations and infrastructure vary widely in different countries and municipalities, SIG take a tailored approach through local roadmaps in priority countries.
Elopak announced the market roll out of the Pure-Pak® eSense carton: a more environmentally friendly aseptic carton made without an aluminium layer.
Designed using technology from our fresh portfolio, as well as our traditional sustainably sourced paperboard, the Pure-Pak® eSense carton is aluminium-free and instead made with a polyolefin blend barrier. This results in up to 50 % lower carbon footprint than a standard Pure-Pak® aseptic carton and full recyclability.
With no aluminium layer, the Pure-Pak® eSense carton unlocks the potential to be fully renewable. It also simplifies the recycling process as the new polyolefin structure enables a one operation separation of the fibers and the polyolefin layers, and the polyolefin material does not contain value reducing elements. Furthermore, the carton is designed with easy folding crease lines, which help consumers to empty all the product inside before folding the carton for more convenient recycling while reducing food waste.
The Pure-Pak® eSense carton is suitable for both low and high acid food & beverage products, including milk, juice and plant-based drinks. The innovative new barrier replaces the aluminium layer while still retaining the classic rigidity of a carton.
The Pure-Pak® eSense carton is available in 500 ml, 750 ml, and 1 l sizes, with 1.5 l, 1.75 l and 2 l and US relevant sizes to be introduced at a later stage. The carton will be available with a range of compatible aseptic caps, as well as a cap-free easy-opening feature which reduces plastic consumption and lowers the carbon footprint even further.
Customers can also opt for polyethylene based on feedstocks from second generation renewable sources, or a carbon neutral version of the Pure-Pak® eSense carton, where the remaining emissions are offset through Elopak’s verified CarbonNeutral® packaging program.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners France (CCEP France) has announced an investment of EUR 30 million in its Dunkirk site, to fund a new production line that will increase the site’s capacity. The site already employs 400 people and bottles 10 different beverage brands. The investment will create at least 10 new jobs.
The Dunkirk site is the newest and largest CCEP site in France with lines producing all types of packs and sizes, and aseptic production which is used to manufacture still drinks – such as juices, teas and sports drinks. The site produces more than 600 million litres of beverages each year.
Since 2018, CCEP France has invested more than EUR 100 million to transform the Dunkirk site.
The Dunkirk site is committed to responsible growth and is taking measures to improve its carbon footprint, in line with CCEP’s net zero 2040 ambition and GHG emissions reduction target. For example, the site has set up an innovative device to replace plastic packaging on batches of cans with cardboard packaging, and 100 % of the waste created at the site is recycled or recovered.
The site also runs the Coca-Cola ‘Passport to Employment’ programme which benefits 400 young people from the Hauts-de-France region each year, and over 25,000 in France since its inception in 2003.
CCEP has been operating in France for more than 100 years, producing 90 % of the beverages in its portfolio locally and has invested EUR 350 million from 2009 to 2019 to strengthen its manufacturing capacity in the country.
The IVLV/VDMA document “Hygienic filling machines of class V according to VDMA: Testing of packaging sterilisation devices for their efficiency” has been revised.
The document specifies test microorganisms for testing of sterilisation devices of this machine class and defines the procedure for carrying out a count reduction test or an end-point test.
This document was compiled in 2002 under the title ‘Testing of aseptic systems with packaging material sterilisation devices for their efficiency’ in the VDMA working group “Interface problems with aseptic systems” in consultation with the Industrievereinigung für Lebensmitteltechnologie und Verpackung e.V. (Industrial Association for Food Technology and Packaging). Compared to the previous version from 2008, the following changes were made:
Restructuring of the trade association publication
Alignment of definitions with other VDMA technical association publications
Revision of the section “Requirements for test germs for testing packaging sterilisation devices for aseptic filling machines”.
Revision of section “Procedure for inoculation of the packaging”.
Revision of section “Germ reduction test” (additions to the practice with machines with multiple treatment stations)
Revision of the section “Endpoint test” including the calculation example in the appendix (addition to the recommendation for the determination of the initial germination scale; additional criterion for the evaluation of the stability of the sterilisation process)
Updating and addition of references
Deletion of appendix “Growing conditions for Bacillus subtilis SA 22 and Bacillus atrophaeus and preparation of the spore suspension”.
Update of annex “Sources of spore suspensions”.
Additional appendix “Example of a sensitivity test of the spore suspension to the disinfection medium – using hydrogen peroxide as an example”.
The trade association publication is available in German and English and can be downloaded free of charge from VDMA.org using the link below.
An overview of all publications of the working group on the topic of low-germ and aseptic filling with links for free download is also available from there.
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SIG announced another milestone in its ambition to go Way Beyond Good for society and the environment by offering ASI-certified aluminium as standard for all SIG packs in Europe.
SIG is the first in the industry to obtain certification to both the ASI (Aluminium Stewardship Initiative) Performance and Chain of Custody standards and is the only aseptic carton producer to offer ASI-certified aluminium in its packs.
The first ASI-labelled cartons were launched by customers such as B-Better® (from Unilever’s Better Future Platform), Riedel and DRINKS3 in 2019. Now, ASI-certified aluminium will come as standard for all SIG packs in Europe.
SIG set for growth with new state-of-the-art production plant in China
As the Asia-Pacific region continues to be one of the major growth engines for aseptic carton packaging, SIG has announced investment in the region with the construction of a second production plant in Suzhou, China.
To meet current and future customer demand, the new 120,000 square meter plant is expected to be operational in early 2021 and will be situated at the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), close to the company’s existing production facility and Tech Centre. With a total investment of EUR 180 million, the new plant will ensure exceptional delivery on outstanding opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region, where most countries continue to grow significantly. The plant is expected to achieve world-class environmental, safety and operational performance right from the start.
The new production facility is testament to SIG’s strong partnership with SIP and the local government, as well as its unparalleled commitment to deliver world-class packaging, service and the most modern solutions to the rapidly growing Asian markets and to China in particular. SIG’s recently opened cutting-edge Tech Centre in Suzhou supports customer collaboration in the development and implementation of innovative product concepts and market-ready packaging solutions.
Across Asia, millions of people are only now starting to consume packaged food and beverages. The rise of new consumers, driven by increasing income, changing lifestyles and new consumption habits, represents a huge opportunity for aseptic carton packaging with its long shelf life without the need of a cooling chain.
At the same time, young and growing populations are adopting modern lifestyles in urban areas, with more on-the-go consumption, an increasing awareness of health and wellness, and a growing demand for high-quality nutritional food and beverage products.
First market launch in Belgium
SIG is making aseptic cartons with ASI-certified aluminium foil available to consumers for the first time in partnership with B-Better®, a start-up brand from Unilever’s Future Platform.
Responsible aluminium sourcing
The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) standard is designed to enhance traceability and responsibility in the aluminium supply chain. SIG is promoting responsible sourcing throughout the value chain by using aluminium from ASI-certified sources for the ultra-thin layer of foil in its packs.
ASI certification adds value for customers by further enhancing the sustainability credentials of their packaging in the eyes of consumers. Customers can now choose to include the ASI logo on their packs alongside the FSCTM logo for responsibly-sourced paper board which has been available on any SIG pack since 2016.
The first market launch for SIG’s ASI-certified cartons will be in Belgium by the B-Better brand.
SIG’s commitment to responsible sourcing is part of the company’s bold ambition to go Way Beyond Good by putting more into the environment and society than it takes out.
SIG is the first in the industry to enable customers to demonstrate their commitment to responsible aluminium sourcing using the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) certification.
Added value through responsible sourcing
SIG offers the world’s first aseptic carton packs that use foil certified to the ASI standard. This add value for customers, brands and retailers by promoting responsible sourcing throughout the value chain – from suppliers all the way through to consumers.
SIG customers also have the option to include the ASI label on packs to show consumers that SIG sources responsibly the aluminium it uses in the cartons – in the same way they can already include the FSCTM label on any SIG pack to show that the liquid paper board comes from responsible sources.
First certification for responsible aluminium
SIG was the first in the industry – and one of the first companies in the world – to achieve certification to the ASI Performance Standard Material Stewardship Principle at the corporate level, together with the ASI Chain of Custody certification for its production site in Austria. The company has now extended ASI Chain of Custody certification to all its carton sleeve production sites in Europe.
The ASI certification enables companies to audit the aluminium supply chain against strict standards on a broad range of ethical, environmental and social topics. Previously, there was no such certification available to certify the ultra-thin layer of aluminium foil used in SIG packs. SIG’s ASI Chain of Custody certification has made it possible for the ASI Standard to be put into practice for the first time in aseptic carton packs.
Europe-wide ASI certification is an important step towards SIG’s target to source 100 % of its key materials from certified sources as part of its ambition to go Way Beyond Good for the environment and society.
Every six packages form a cube, optimising use of space in transportation and storage
Tetra Pak today launched the Tetra Classic® Aseptic 65 ml Cube package, offering an efficient packaging solution for dairy, juice and liquid food.
The dimensions of the package have been designed to allow every six packages to form a cube, hence optimising the use of space in distribution and storage. This has brought significant improvement in cost efficiencies and the environmental footprint.
The package adds to the company’s Tetra Classic Aseptic family, the tetrahedron packages known for their minimal use of packaging materials.
Compared to the traditional Tetra Classic Aseptic 65 ml packages, the new package requires less secondary packaging and needs approximately 40 % less space to transport the same quantity of products. This means food can now be delivered safely over longer distances, at lower cost, and made available to consumers at an affordable price.
Hemant Krashak, Product Director at Tetra Pak said, “With its robust food protection, minimal use of materials, and efficiency in distribution, the Tetra Classic Aseptic 65 ml Cube package provides a simple answer to the rising need of environmentally sound packages while saving cost for manufacturers. Many customers with existing Tetra Classic Aseptic filling machines can easily switch to this new package with limited investment.”
The new package is now available with hand packing for secondary boxes. It has been in use since December 2018 at a customer in Southeast Asia selling coconut milk as a cooking ingredient in markets where logistics infrastructure is a challenge.
Shou Quan Zhai (SQZ), founded in 1760 and one of the oldest food companies in China, is expanding into the beverage market with a new line of ready-to-drink products. The ginger tea and plum juice drinks are the first non-dairy beverages in China available in lightweight flexible packages from Ecolean.
The drinks will be available in the 200 ml Ecolean® Air Aseptic packages on February 20, on SQZ’s online store, e-commerce channels and at retail locations across China. The products are part of a larger traditional Chinese beverage line that will include more products in the future. SQZ is developing, manufacturing and selling herbal beverages to create a healthy lifestyle and is a bestseller of ginger tea products in China.
According to SQZ, the company is engaged in environmental issues and has a long-term view of its work in the sustainability field. The company is committed to keep refining its technology to provide the best experience for the consumers as well as for the environment. SQZ chose Ecolean for its unique package characteristics and low impact on the environment. Ecolean packages are lightweight, almost half in weight compared to many traditional packaging formats, and contain up to 35 % chalk. Using fewer raw materials from the start saves energy during production, transport and waste handling. The packages can also be completely flattened, minimizing food waste and using less space in the waste bin.
In addition, the packages can be used in the microwave — a main benefit to SQZ since ginger tea is typically served warm. The packages are also easy to open and pour and stand upright.
“With a 259-year history, SQZ proudly respects the environment for generations now and in the future,” said Lin Lei, Director, Public Relations and Government Affairs for SQZ. “Ecolean’s advanced packaging technology from Sweden has a minimum impact on the environment, is easy to recognize on the store shelf and is convenient for consumers to use.”
Just as Ecolean is committed to producing lighter, flexible packaging, its filling equipment is also light and compact using minimal resources. Ready-to-fill packages are sterilized using electron beam treatment, hermetically sealed and distributed on reels from Ecolean plants, bringing a considerable part of the complex sterilization process from the liquid food producer back to Ecolean. SQZ chose the Ecolean aseptic filling machine EL4+ for its operations. As for all Ecolean filling machines, it follows the philosophy of keeping it simple, providing a reliable, economical and lean operation. It is easily operated and maintained by SQZ’s personnel.
“The new ready-to-drink beverages from SQZ represent the first non-dairy beverages in Ecolean packages in the Chinese market,” said Johnny Sajland, Regional Director, Asia North and Oceania, Ecolean. “We are excited to work with SQZ to bring new innovation and products to the more than 1.4 billion population in China, both now and in the future.”
SIG is the first in the industry to offer a market-ready alternative to plastic straws, announcing that a paper straw solution will be delivered to first customers in the first quarter of 2019.
With growing concern about the environmental impact of plastic straws, the food and beverage industry urgently needs an alternative solution. SIG’s new paper straw offers such a solution.
Nestlé is the first customer to introduce SIG’s paper straw solution and has already tested the market launch in the Dominican Republic.
Seeking a solution
SIG does not make straws, but some of its portion-size packs are designed to be used with a straw for convenience on the go and the company has been working with suppliers to develop alternatives.
Paper is renewable and recyclable. This forest-based material already makes up 70 – 80 % of SIG’s cartons on average, and the look and feel of paper also visibly reinforces its environmental credentials to consumers.
SIG worked closely with a manufacturing partner to develop an innovative and exclusive solution that makes the paper straw robust enough to pierce the closed straw hole of SIG’s aseptic cartons. The wrapper for the straw has also been redesigned to help prevent litter by remaining attached to the pack to be recycled along with the rest of the carton.
The new paper straws will be made of paperboard from FSCTM (Forest Stewardship CouncilTM)-certified forests or other controlled sources. Customers can already include the FSC label on any SIG carton and they will be able to add the label to the paper straws once the manufacturing partner has completed FSC Chain-of-Custody certification, which is expected during the second half of 2019.
The new paper straw solution supports SIG’s efforts to use more renewable materials. The initial volume of paper straws will be limited during the launch phase, as SIG ramps up capacity with its manufacturing partner. SIG is also continuing to invest in new ways to apply this alternative straw solution to a wider variety of packaging formats.
The world market for aseptically packed products amounted to 152 billion litres in 347 billion packs during 2017, according to the new Global Aseptic Packaging report from leading food and drinks consultancy Zenith Global Ltd and packaging experts Warrick Research Ltd. Volumes have risen by 2.7 % a year since 2012, with South East Asia achieving the fastest annual growth rate of 7 %, followed by China on 6 %.
Beverages such as fruit juice accounted for 39 % of aseptically packed products, with white drinking milk responsible for 38 % and other dairy/food products making up the remainder. Aseptic filling has also become established for soups, sauces, tomato products and baby foods.
“While European companies still dominate the global aseptic filling equipment industry, the Chinese market is increasingly supplied by Chinese equipment manufacturers, some of whom have also successfully entered other Asian markets,” commented David Warrick, Director at Warrick Research Ltd. “Volumes have been static in much of Europe, contrasting with rapid growth in many Asian countries,” added Arunkumar Anbalagan, Senior Insights Analyst at Zenith Global Ltd.
Other findings of the 2018 Global Aseptic Packaging report include:
There are over 16,000 operational aseptic filling systems worldwide, serviced by more than 30 suppliers.
The largest markets for aseptic packaging are China and South East Asia. China is set to become the leading country by 2022, followed by South East Asia and West Europe.
Value added dairy products are a fast growing area of demand for aseptic filling systems. In some regions, fillers are used for both ambient and chilled dairy products.
Environmental issues have become more important in many regions. Developments include the introduction of electron beam sterilisation as an alternative to chemical sterilisation. Demand is increasing for re-use or recycling.
By 2022, Zenith and Warrick estimate that the world market will reach 176 billion litres and 410 billion packs. The majority of additional demand will come from South East Asia as well as China.