Tetra Pak Invests €60 Million in Paper-Based Barrier Pilot Plant

Tetra Pak invests €60 million in a pilot plant at its Lund, Sweden facility to advance paper-based barrier technology for aseptic beverage cartons. The plant accelerates development of an innovative material replacing aluminium foil with a paper-based barrier, raising paper content to approximately 80% and renewable content to 92% when paired with plant-based polymers. This reduces carbon footprint by up to 43% compared to standard aseptic packaging, per Carbon Trust-verified lifecycle analysis.​

Located in Lund for research synergies with Lund University and MAX IV Laboratory access, the facility starts production in Q1 2027, enabling customer testing across manufacturing stages. Joakim Tuvesson, Vice President Materials & Package, stated: "By expanding our facilities and strengthening strategic partnerships, we aim to make our innovative paper-based barrier accessible to more customers, accelerating their transition to sustainable packaging materials." The investment aligns with Tetra Pak's €100 million annual commitment through 2030 for sustainable packaging, following 2023's first commercial launch with Lactogal.​

Simplifying cartons to paper and polymers enhances recycling by improving paper fibre recovery. Tetra Pak's ambition targets fully renewable or recycled cartons that protect climate, resources, and biodiversity while ensuring food safety.​