“E” for eco-friendly: Elopak unveils Pure-Pak eSense aseptic carton for carbon cuts

24 Aug 2021 --- Elopak is unveiling a more environmentally sustainable aseptic carton branded the Pure-Pak eSense. The new carton is the same shape as the consumer-friendly Pure-Pak Sense Aseptic carton, with the “e” standing for eco-friendly.

The Pure-Pak eSense has been developed using Elopak’s fresh portfolio technology, ensuring the carton preserves product integrity, safety, and lifespan without requiring an aluminum layer, commonly used in aseptic packaging.

According to Elopak, eliminating the aluminum layer reduces the carton’s carbon footprint by 28 percent while facilitating full recyclability.

“Today, brands and consumers are constantly looking for new ways to further reduce their environmental footprint, without compromising on functionality,” says Elopak CMO Patrick Verhelst.

“We are excited to add this latest innovation to our offering and provide our customers in the aseptic segment with an even more sustainable packaging solution.”

“This innovation has been made possible because of Elopak’s decades of experience, the determination and efforts of our technical experts, and our company-wide commitment to advancing sustainability.”

Supporting a net-zero circular economy
The Pure-Pak eSense carton has been developed in line with Elopak’s ambitions to contribute to a net-zero circular economy. Elopak aims to replace plastic bottles with fully renewable, low-carbon cartons that offer “a natural, sustainable, and convenient alternative.”

“Elopak is on a journey to become even more sustainable, both as a company and through the cartons we produce,” explains Elopak’s director of sustainability Marianne Groven.Elopak says eliminating the carton’s aluminum layer reduces its carbon footprint by 28%.

“Over time, we have continuously improved the environmental profile of our cartons. For example, between 2014 and 2020, we achieved a reduction in the carbon footprint of an average carton with a closure from 32 gCO2e to 25 gCO2e.”

Elopak published its 2020 Sustainability Report in May, highlighting an 11 percent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) against a 2017 baseline.

The reduction represents “great progress” toward its Science Based Target initiative-approved 55 percent GHG reduction goal.

The global carton packaging and filling equipment supplier has also increased sales of its fully renewable cartons for fresh milk in Europe, reaching 18 percent in 2020, compared to 8 percent in 2018.

The company has been using 100 percent renewable energy and maintaining carbon neutrality since 2016.

Life Cycle Assessment
Groven adds that Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) have demonstrated that beverage cartons already have strong environmental credentials compared to alternatives such as plastic bottles.

An LCA conducted by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IFEU) in 2018 compared 1 L beverage cartons with commercially available disposable and reusable systems in the German market, including glass and PET packaging.

The climate impact results for cartons were 78 percent lower than reusable glass bottles for fresh milk, 37 percent lower than reusable glass bottles for fruit juices and 71 percent lower than PET bottles for UHT milk.Elopak offers several sustainability-focused solutions such as Natural Brown Board cartons across fresh and aseptic segments.

“They [cartons] also play an important role in keeping products safe and minimizing food waste, which is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions,” continues Groven.

“The addition of the Pure-Pak eSense carton to our offering is important because it means our customers in the aseptic segment will also be able to select an aluminum-free option.”

“Aluminum is a finite natural resource, meaning it does not replenish over time. In addition, the extraction and production of aluminum are relatively energy-intensive and thus have a higher carbon footprint compared to the other materials in beverage cartons,” she adds.

Sustainability-focused solutions
Elopak offers customers several sustainability-focused innovations such as Natural Brown Board cartons across both fresh and aseptic segments. These cartons are renewable, recyclable and have a lower carbon footprint per carton, owing to reduced wood consumption and the elimination of the bleaching process.

The supplier also offers cartons without a cap for chilled beverages. The Pure-Pak Imagine carton is a modern version of the company’s original Pure-Pak carton, launched in 2020. Designed with an easy-open feature, it contains 46 percent less plastic and is available as fully forest-based.

In June, Elopak introduced a new tethered cap solution for its Pure-Pak cartons called the Pure-TwistFlip. The launch comes as the industry prepares for the EU’s Single Use-Plastics Directive, requiring manufacturers to adopt tethered caps and lids that remain attached to containers by July 2024.

Edited by Joshua Poole