Why Tetra Pak is Investing €60m in Sustainable Technologies

Tetra Pak, one of the world's biggest food processing and packaging solutions companies, has invested €60m (US$69m) for its paper-based barrier technology. 

The investment will go towards a facility in Lund, Sweden, which will help its clients implement the technology across manufacturing, from barrier creation to packaging material and filled package production.

Tetra Pak says that it aims to speed up the development of paper-based barrier packaging which will replace traditional aluminium foil in aseptic beverage cartons

This could help to reduce the carbon footprint of some of its beverage packaging products by up to 43%. 

Paper-based barrier technology

The plant in Sweden aims to implement a solution in its aseptic beverage cartons where the traditional aluminium foil layer is replaced with a new paper-based barrier.

This solution simplifies the material structure from three to two main materials: paper and polymers.

Tetra Pak’s technology maximises the paper content in beverage cartons to approximately 80% and, when combined with plant-based polymers, increases the traceable renewable content of a carton up to 92%, cutting the carbon footprint by up to 43%.

The technology will also offer benefits in recycling infrastructure, by increasing the recovery of paper content during the recycling process of carton packages and delivering fibre and non-fibre fractions.

Tetra Pak chose to invest in a pilot plant in Lund, Switzerland, for its strong ties to existing research and material development, close collaboration with Lund University and access to advanced testing capabilities at the MAX IV Laboratory.

The world's first paper-based barrier 

In 2023, a partnership between Portuguese food products company Lactogal and Tetra Pak saw the launch of the first aseptic beverage carton featuring a paper-based barrier.

The companies launched the Tetra Brik Aseptic 200 Slim Leaf carton which provides a package that can be distributed under ambient conditions.

The investment in the new plant sees the continuation of Tetra Pak’s commitment to bring industrial scale to this technology by 2025. 

The paper-based barrier technology was also implemented in Asia in 2026 for high‑speed Tetra Pak A3 speed filling lines, with Maeil Dairies in South Korea becoming the first producer globally to implement the solution for its soya beverage.

Tatiana Liceti, Executive Vice President, Packaging Solutions at Tetra Pak, says: “Scaling sustainable packaging solutions should go hand in hand with operational efficiency.

"By bringing our paper‑based barrier to high‑performing Tetra Pak A3 speed packaging lines, we are offering beverage producers an opportunity to adopt low-carbon packaging solution based on renewable materials while maintaining food protection and cost‑competitiveness.” 

Sustainable packaging

According to McKinsey, integrating sustainability concerns can be a profitable strategy for retailers. 

A report from 2025 says the current moment offers a valuable window of opportunity for those that are prepared to invest and collaborate to develop and roll out innovative solutions that meet consumer demands and regulatory requirements.

This investment forms part of Tetra Pak’s commitment to invest approximately €100m (US$115m) annually to 2030 in the development of sustainable packaging solutions.

Joakim Tuvesson, Vice President Materials and Package at Tetra Pak, says: “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. 

“We look forward to starting production and welcoming first customers to the new pilot plant in the first quarter of 2027.”