Tetra Pak launches paper-based barrier aseptic carton for juice

Tetra Pak, in collaboration with Spanish beverage producer García Carrión, has launched the world’s first aseptic juice carton using a paper-based barrier instead of a traditional aluminum foil layer.

The new package, a Tetra Brik Aseptic 200 ml Slim Leaf carton, is being introduced under García Carrión’s Don Simón juice brand and is now rolling out in Spain. According to Tetra Pak, this is the first commercial juice portion pack globally to apply the company’s paper-based barrier technology.

The carton is made with up to 80% paper, and when combined with plant-based polymers used in its coatings, the total renewable content reaches 92%. Tetra Pak reports that the new material structure reduces the package’s carbon footprint by 43% compared with conventional aseptic cartons that rely on aluminum foil and fossil-based polymers, a figure verified by the Carbon Trust.

Tetra Pak states that the paper-based barrier maintains protection against oxygen, light, moisture, and bacteria, ensuring food safety and shelf life comparable to aluminum-based aseptic packaging. The company also notes that the cartons can be collected, sorted, and recycled at scale where recycling infrastructure is available, with additional benefits for fiber recovery during the recycling process.

According to García Carrión, the packaging supports its broader sustainability strategy focused on reducing environmental impact across operations. Tetra Pak says the launch demonstrates that renewable, low-carbon packaging solutions can be scaled commercially without compromising performance.

The juice carton follows an earlier 2023 collaboration with a dairy producer in Portugal, where Tetra Pak first introduced its paper-based barrier technology. The company describes the latest launch as a key step toward its long-term goal of developing fully renewable, recyclable, and low-carbon food packaging solutions.