Tetra Pak caps off its renewable packaging solutions

TINE, a Norwegian dairy producer, distributor and exporter, is the first brand in Europe to use Tetra Pak’s LightCap 30 product, a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) cap made from sugar cane.

TINE’s Piano vanilla sauce, TINE iced coffee, iced tea and chocolate milk will be packaged in the Tetra Brik Aseptic Edge with LightCap 30.

“As one of Norway’s largest users of packaging, it is important that we use our resources optimally and prioritise sustainability,” said Björn Malm, Sustainability Manager at TINE.

“This is a business imperative for us. Tetra Pak’s TBA Edge, which is made from about 75% renewable resources, now comes with a bio-based cap, offering us the opportunity to further enhance the environmental profile of our products.”

The polyethylene used in LightCap 30 is produced by crushing sugar cane, then fermenting and distilling the juice to produce ethanol. The ethanol is converted into ethylene by a process of dehydration, and then polymerised to produce the polyethylene used to manufacture the cap.

The LightCap was launched globally on 27 May 2013.

“The development of the bio-based LightCap 30 is another important step towards our goal of producing a 100% renewable packaging solution,” said Erik Steijger, Product Manager Environmental Innovation, Tetra Pak.

“This launch demonstrates our continued commitment to environmental innovation and providing customers, retailers and consumers with the highest level of environmental performance for their packaging.”