Tetra Pak is investing €60 million in a new pilot plant for paper-based barrier technology in Lund, Sweden. The facility will accelerate the development of an innovative aseptic packaging material that will replace the traditional aluminium layer with a paper-based barrier.
The new solution increases the proportion of paper in cardboard packaging for food and beverages to around 80 per cent. In combination with plant-based polymers, the verifiably renewable proportion of a cartonboard increases to up to 92 per cent, while at the same time reducing the carbon footprint by up to 43 per cent. By simplifying the material structure from the previous three to two main materials - paper and polymers - further benefits are also expected for the recycling infrastructure. These include maximum recovery of the paper content in the recycling process for cardboard packaging and the availability of high-quality fibre and non-fibre fractions.
Cooperation with the scientific community
Tetra Pak is investing in the new pilot plant in Lund to further advance the market maturity of this paper-based barrier. In the future, it will offer customers comprehensive insights into the entire process chain, from the manufacture of the barrier to the production of the packaging material and the filling of finished beverage packages. The Lund site was chosen due to its close links with existing research and material development. This includes close co-operation with Lund University and access to state-of-the-art testing facilities at the MAX IV Laboratory, a Swedish laboratory for synchrotron research.
„By expanding our infrastructure and strengthening strategic partnerships, we want to make our paper-based barrier accessible to more customers and accelerate their transition to more environmentally conscious packaging materials. We look forward to starting production and welcoming the first customers to our new pilot plant in the first quarter of 2027.“
Joakim Tuvesson, Vice President Materials & Package at Tetra Pak
The investment is part of Tetra Pak's long-term commitment to invest around 100 million euros annually in the development of sustainable packaging solutions by 2030.
Source: Tetra Pak
