Tetra Pak

Tetra Pak has launched its fully renewable Tetra Rex Bio-based package, following its successful introduction with Finnish dairy Valio.

Said to be the world’s first fully renewable package, Tetra Rex Bio-based cartons are manufactured from a combination of plastics derived from sugar cane and paperboard.

Tetra Pak claims that the plastics used in package can be traced back to their origin such as the Forest Stewardship Council certified paperboard.

The bio-based plastics used by the company are produced by Brazilian chemical company Braskem.

The Tetra Rex bio-based cartons feature low-density polyethylene to create the laminate film for the packaging material.The neck of the opening, together with the high-density polyethylene used for the cap, is derived from sugar cane.

Available in various sizes ranging from 250ml to 2,000ml, Tetra Rex bio-based cartons can be used for packaging chilled milk.

"Tetra Rex Bio-based offers customers a fully renewable package made from materials that can be traced back to their plant-based source."

Tetra Pak product management and commercial operations executive vice-president Charles Brand said: "Tetra Rex Bio-based offers customers a fully renewable package made from materials that can be traced back to their plant-based source.

"It’s good for the environment, and it’s excellent for communicating with consumers. The product they actually hold in their hands is derived entirely from plants. The pack that grows back."

Valio has been selling its Valio Eila brand of lactose-free, semi-skimmed milk drink in Tetra Rex Bio-based cartons for the past three months. It now plans to use the fully renewable package for some other products in their range and also plans to use Tetra Pak’s 100% bio-based closures for all their gable-top packages.


Image: Tetra Rex Bio-based cartons are manufactured from a combination of plastics derived from sugar cane and paperboard. Photo: courtesy of Tetra Pak.