The carbon footprint story of cartons
Packaging contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, making it important to choose options with a reduced environmental impact.
Watch the film to learn more about the factors that influence the carbon footprint of cartons.
The carbon footprint story of cartons
Packaging contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, making it important to choose options with a reduced environmental impact.
Watch the film to learn more about the factors that influence the carbon footprint of cartons.
Up to 90% renewable content
Replacing finite, fossil fuel-based materials with responsibly managed, renewable materials can help drive a low-carbon economy by decreasing carbon emissions while reducing dependency on finite resources1.
Cartons are primarily made from paperboard sourced from FSC™-certified2 forests and other controlled sources - a renewable material that can be replenished when sourced responsibly. We continuously strive to increase the renewable content in our packaging, introducing innovations such as Bonsucro-certified, sugarcane-based plastic layers and caps while also developing a paper-based barrier to replace the ultra-thin aluminum layer.
For example, the Tetra Brik® Aseptic 200 Slim Leaf package with a paper-based barrier contains up to 90% renewable content, reducing its carbon footprint by one-third compared to the standard equivalent.
Energy-efficient food distribution and storage
Beyond their material composition, cartons also support energy-efficient storage and distribution of food. Unlike many other packaging types, aseptic cartons do not require refrigeration, helping to reduce energy consumption. Additionally, their efficient stackability potentially means fewer trucks are needed to transport food, lowering fuel consumption and associated emissions.
With a high product-to-packaging ratio of 96:4 – where 96% is product and the rest packaging – cartons are designed to deliver more with less.
Paper wins! According to
Life Cycle Assessments
Multiple Life Cycle Assessments demonstrate that cartons have a lower climate impact compared to single-use packaging made primarily from fossil fuel-based materials in the dairy and juice, nectar and still drinks (JNSD) segments*. Cartons are made mainly from responsibly sourced paperboard, which is a renewable material that can be replenished.
*Wohner, B., & Tacker, M. (2021, November). Supporting evidence - Environmental performance of beverage cartons. University of Applied Sciences Campus Vienna.
1Renewable Materials for a Low Carbon and Circular Future | Shared by Business (thirdlight.com)
2Tetra Pak’s FSC license code is FSC™ C014047