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Home Explore Recycling | Giving cartons a new life

Go Nature. Go Carton.

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The story behind beverage cartons

We’re all so used to having milk or juice in our daily routine. But have you wondered how the everyday carton makes its way to you? Where does it come from, and what happens to it after you have used it? 


Watch the story of paper-based Tetra Pak® cartons.

The story behind beverage cartons

We’re all so used to having milk or juice in our daily routine. But have you wondered how the everyday carton makes its way to you? Where does it come from, and what happens to it after you have used it? 


Watch the story of paper-based Tetra Pak® cartons.

Benefits of aseptic paper-based cartons

We rely on everyday food items like milk, juices or plant-based beverages for our daily nutrition. However, many of them are highly perishable with short shelf lives. Aseptic technology and paper-based cartons provide the needed protection to perishable foods, making them available over vast distances with a longer shelf life.

Milk poured into a bowl

Protects food properties

Aseptic paper-based cartons are made of multiple layers that keep light, air and microorganisms out. This helps to preserve the properties and quality of food for an extended period over 6 months without the need for refrigeration or preservatives.

Explore the packaging material⁠
Two experts in lab coats

Helps reduce food waste

Advanced aseptic technology combined with aseptic carton packaging ensures that harmful bacteria and microorganisms are eliminated. As a result, perishable liquid food packed in aseptic cartons have a longer shelf life, helping reduce food waste across the value chain.

Learn more about aseptic solutions⁠
Variety of carton packaging

Has less carbon impact

Our carton packages are primarily paper-based, a renewable resource which we source responsibly. This helps beverage cartons feature a lower carbon footprint than other packaging solutions, with only 83 g CO2 equivalents per litre (eq/l) compared to 430 g CO2 eq/l for single-use glass bottles, 156 CO2 eq/l for PET bottles and 100 g CO2 eq/l for reusable glass bottles.

See carbon footprint here⁠

Recycling: How it works

An average Tetra Pak® carton is made of about 70% paperboard, 25% plastic and 5% aluminium to protect its contents – and is recyclable where adequate collection, sorting and recycling systems are in place, at scale. This means you may see a beverage carton again as a paper towel, pallet, cardboard packaging, crate, and more. 

 

Learn more about the carton recycling process and the different paths a carton package can take once placed in the recycling bin.

Recycling: How it works

An average Tetra Pak® carton is made of about 70% paperboard, 25% plastic and 5% aluminium to protect its contents – and is recyclable where adequate collection, sorting and recycling systems are in place, at scale. This means you may see a beverage carton again as a paper towel, pallet, cardboard packaging, crate, and more. 

 

Learn more about the carton recycling process and the different paths a carton package can take once placed in the recycling bin.

A boy flattening the package while throwing it in the bin

Recycle beverage cartons in 3 simple steps!

Every beverage carton you put in the recycling bin helps it move towards a new beginning and keeps valuable resources in use and out of landfills. All you have to do is empty and flatten the cartons before placing the whole package, including the cap in the recycling bin.

Recycled materials such as paper boards, pallets, crates

What can a beverage carton become?

After collection and sorting, cartons are loaded in a pulper and blended with water to separate the paper from the polymers and aluminium. The paper fibres are then cleaned, pressed, dried, and formed into paper rolls before becoming tissues, paper towels, cardboard boxes, and more. Meanwhile, the polymers and aluminium are extracted, shredded together and turned into granules. From there, the granules are turned into various products like pallets, crates and automotive parts.

A fun way to recycle beverage cartons: Do It Yourself papermaking

To demonstrate on a much smaller scale how beverage cartons can be recycled, check out this do-it-yourself video and try recycling them at home.

It’s easy, it’s fun for the whole family, and the video shows how it works.

A fun way to recycle beverage cartons: Do It Yourself papermaking

To demonstrate on a much smaller scale how beverage cartons can be recycled, check out this do-it-yourself video and try recycling them at home.

It’s easy, it’s fun for the whole family, and the video shows how it works.

Recycling stories

running shoes

The world’s first sports shoe made of recycled cartons

The world’s first sports shoe made of recycled cartons

The story of Ecuador’s first sports shoe made of recycled carton, and how Bunky, Ecuaplastic and Tetra Pak came together to create yet another product out of polyAl.

Read more⁠
a room with a table and chairs

Introducing a new line of 3D-printed products based on PolyAl

Introducing a new line of 3D-printed products based on PolyAl

From carton to PolyAl to furniture: A Dutch design brand is turning beverage cartons into beautiful interior objects, proving the potential of large-scale upcycling.

Read more⁠
A colorful chair

PolyAl recycling - Ecuaplastic

PolyAl recycling - Ecuaplastic

We support Ecuaplastic as they continue to improve the quality and launch value-added products made from recycled polyAl, drawing on waste materials.

Read more⁠
a large bales of garbage

Tetra Pak unveils recycling collaborations and investments ahead of Earth Day

Tetra Pak unveils recycling collaborations and investments ahead of Earth Day

Tetra Pak’s recent collaborations are focused on creating additional recycling capacity, increasing collection rates and ensuring that materials from post-consumer beverage cartons can re-enter the economy.

Read more⁠

Initiatives

Circular solutions

Driving circular solutions

To improve collection, sorting and recycling, we are collaborating to increase the paper fibre content of our paper-based carton packages and supporting the use of recycled materials.

Explore our work towards circularity⁠
Description: PolyAl recycling

Recycling initiatives across the value chain

We are continuously working towards improving the recycling and recyclability of our carton packages across the value chain, from designing to the collection, sorting and recycling of cartons.

See our recycling initiatives here⁠