Tetra Pak, in collaboration with García Carrión, has introduced the first-ever aseptic juice carton using a paper-based barrier—a major step forward in reducing reliance on aluminium and fossil-based materials in food packaging. The new Tetra Brik® Aseptic 200 ml Slim Leaf carton is debuting under García Carrión’s flagship Don Simón brand and is now rolling out across multiple markets, including Spain.
A Breakthrough in Sustainable Packaging
The new carton is made with up to 80% paper, and when combined with plant-based polymers, raises the renewable material content to 92%. According to the Carbon Trust, this innovation delivers a 43% reduction in carbon footprintcompared to conventional aseptic cartons using aluminium foil and fossil-based polymers.
García Carrión sees the solution as an extension of its 360° Sustainability Strategy, which recently earned the Factories of the Future Award 2024 for excellence in sustainability and circularity.
Tatiana Liceti, Executive Vice President for Packaging Solutions at Tetra Pak, highlighted the broader significance:
“By working closely with our customers, we’re proving that sustainable innovation can scale without compromising performance, quality, or food safety.”
What Makes the Paper-Based Barrier Unique?
Tetra Pak’s paper-based barrier replaces the traditional aluminium layer in aseptic packaging. This renewable, low-carbon alternative protects juice from oxygen, light, moisture, and external contaminants—preserving food safety and shelf life comparable to aluminium-based cartons.
The new structure also improves recyclability by enabling higher recovery of high-quality paper fibres during the recycling process and enhancing overall efficiency across recycling facilities where carton recycling is available.
Part of a Larger Vision
The development is a key milestone in Tetra Pak’s long-term ambition to create the world’s most sustainable food package—one that is:
- Fully paper-based
- Made from responsibly sourced renewable or recycled materials
- Low in carbon footprint
- Fully recyclable at scale
This follows the successful 2023 launch of a similar paper-based barrier for dairy packaging in Portugal, which earned the Resource Efficiency award at the Sustainable Packaging News Awards 2024.