New Renewable-Content Carton from Tetra Pak Marks Global Milestone in Low-Carbon Beverage Packaging

Tetra Brik® Aseptic Slim Leaf 200 ml with paper-based barrier – Don Simon Tropical

(IN BRIEF) Tetra Pak and García Carrión have launched the world’s first juice carton using Tetra Pak’s new paper-based barrier technology, marking a significant step in reducing reliance on aluminium and fossil-based materials in beverage packaging. The new Tetra Brik Aseptic 200 ml Slim Leaf carton for the Don Simón brand contains up to 80% paper and reaches 92% renewable content, lowering its carbon footprint by 43% compared with traditional aseptic cartons, according to verification by the Carbon Trust. The innovation aligns with García Carrión’s 360° Sustainability Strategy and supports its broader environmental objectives. Tetra Pak says the technology moves the industry closer to a fully renewable and recyclable package and ensures shelf life and food safety comparable to aluminium-based solutions. The paper-based barrier also enhances recyclability by improving the recovery of paper fibres. This global first for the juice category builds on the success of Tetra Pak’s earlier launch of a similar barrier for dairy in Portugal, which earned a major sustainability award in 2024.

(PRESS RELEASE) LAUSANNE, 11-Dec-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Tetra Pak, together with long-standing partner García Carrión, has introduced the world’s first juice packaging solution using its new paper-based barrier technology—an advancement that marks a major milestone in the transition toward renewable, low-carbon food packaging. The new material is now being deployed across several markets, setting a precedent for the global juice industry.

In a world-first for the category, the companies have launched the Tetra Brik® Aseptic 200 ml Slim Leaf carton with a paper-based barrier under García Carrión’s flagship Don Simón brand. This represents the first juice portion pack worldwide to incorporate the innovative barrier structure and the first pack of its kind available on the Spanish market.

Composed of up to 80% paper, the package significantly strengthens its environmental profile. By replacing the traditional aluminium layer with a renewable, paper-based barrier and combining it with plant-based polymers, the overall renewable content rises to 92%. The new structure also delivers a 43% reduction in carbon footprint compared with an aseptic carton composed of aluminium foil and fossil-derived polymers, as independently verified by the Carbon Trust¹.

“We are proud to lead innovation in sustainable juice packaging. For more than 135 years, García Carrión has upheld a commitment to responsible innovation and environmental stewardship,” said Don José García Carrión, President of García Carrión. Fala Corujo, Vice President, added that the new packaging supports the company’s long-standing goal of reducing environmental impact while delivering high-quality products.

The launch reflects a further application of García Carrión’s 360° Sustainability Strategy, which received the Factories of the Future Award 2024 for Excellence in Sustainability and Circular Economy.

“This is a major development in our progression toward renewable, fully recyclable packaging,” said Tatiana Liceti, Executive Vice President, Packaging Solutions at Tetra Pak. “Our collaboration with customers demonstrates that sustainable innovation can be successfully scaled while maintaining product performance and consumer expectations.”

What is the paper-based barrier?

The new paper-based barrier is a breakthrough in aseptic carton engineering. Designed as an alternative to aluminium foil, it shifts the material composition toward renewable sources and significantly reduces the package’s carbon footprint. Working alongside other functional layers, the barrier protects beverages from oxygen, moisture, light, and bacteria, ensuring uncompromised food safety and shelf life equal to traditional aseptic cartons.

Aseptic cartons featuring the new barrier can be collected, sorted, and recycled at scale where appropriate recycling systems exist. The technology is expected to improve downstream recycling performance by increasing paper recovery and enhancing the quality of both fibre and non-fibre fractions.

This innovation forms part of Tetra Pak’s wider ambition to create the world’s most sustainable food package—one that is paper-based, fully recyclable², responsibly sourced, and carries the lowest possible carbon footprint.

Tetra Pak first introduced its aseptic carton with a paper-based barrier in partnership with a dairy producer in Portugal in 2023, where it quickly received industry recognition, including the “Resource Efficiency” award at the Sustainable Packaging News Awards 2024.

Media contacts
Marcin Pawelec
PR Manager – Packaging
Marcin.Pawelec@tetrapak.com

¹Source: Carbon Trust™- verified Tetra Pak ‘Carton CO2 Calculator’ model version 11 (valid from 2025-01-01). Scope: cradle-to-grave measurement of a Tetra Brik® Aseptic 200 Slim Leaf carton with plant-based polymers in coating and paper-based barrier compared to a Tetra Brik® Aseptic 200 Slim Leaf package with aluminium foil layer and fossil-based polymers. Geography: EU Industry data.
²This means creating cartons that are fully made of renewable or recycled materials, that are responsibly sourced, therefore helping to protect and restore our planet’s climate, resources and biodiversity; contributing towards low carbon production and distribution; are convenient and safe, therefore helping to enable a resilient food system; are fully recyclable.

SOURCE: Tetra Pak