Inside Tetra Pak's €60m Sustainable Packaging Investment

Tetra Pak, one of the world’s leading providers of food processing and packaging solutions, has announced a €60m (US$69m) investment to advance its paper-based barrier technology.

The funding will support a new facility in Lund, Sweden, designed to help clients integrate the technology across their production lines—from barrier creation and packaging material development through to filled package manufacturing.

Tetra Pak says the goal is to accelerate the rollout of paper-based barrier packaging to replace the traditional aluminium foil layers used in aseptic beverage cartons. This shift could reduce the carbon footprint of some beverage packaging by up to 43%.

Paper-based barrier technology

The Swedish plant aims to deliver a solution that replaces the aluminium foil layer in aseptic cartons with a new paper-based barrier. Simplifying the material composition from three to two primary components—paper and polymers—the innovation maximises the paper content of beverage cartons to around 80%. When combined with plant-based polymers, the renewable, traceable content of each carton can reach up to 92%, helping cut carbon emissions by as much as 43%.

The technology also enhances recycling outcomes by improving the recovery of paper fibres during the recycling process, delivering more usable fibre and non-fibre fractions. Tetra Pak selected Lund for the pilot facility due to its strong connections with existing research and material innovation, close collaboration with Lund University, and access to advanced testing at the MAX IV Laboratory.

The world's first paper-based barrier 

In 2023, Portuguese food producer Lactogal partnered with Tetra Pak to launch the first aseptic beverage carton using a paper-based barrier. The Tetra Brik Aseptic 200 Slim Leaf carton can be distributed under ambient conditions, marking a milestone in renewable packaging. Tetra Pak’s ongoing investment in the new Lund plant continues its commitment to bring this technology to industrial scale by 2025.

The paper-based barrier was also deployed in Asia in 2026 for high-speed Tetra Pak A3 lines. Maeil Dairies of South Korea became the first company globally to use the solution for its soya beverage production.

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.” 

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Sustainable packaging

McKinsey research suggests that embedding sustainability into packaging can be financially rewarding for retailers. Its 2025 report describes the present as a “valuable window of opportunity” for businesses willing to invest and collaborate to deliver innovative solutions that align with consumer expectations and evolving regulation.

Tetra Pak’s latest initiative supports its wider commitment to invest around €100m (US$115m) annually through 2030 in developing sustainable packaging innovations. 

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.”