German food company uses plant-based carton for organic milk

German food and drinks manufacturer Arla Foods has highlighted its commitment to sustainability by choosing the first aseptic carton pack to be 100% linked to plant-based renewable material.

SIG’s SIGNATURE PACK supports its ambitions to offer customers sustainable food packaging solutions, and allows Arla Foods to address the increasing demand for environmentally friendly products and packaging. It now offers its one-litre 1.5% and 3.8% organic milk, Arla BIO Weidemilch, in the sustainable carton.

Responding to consumer demand

The company’s organic milk cartons carry a clear message to consumers: buying this pack promotes the use of renewable raw materials to protect fossil resources while making a positive impact in reducing the CO₂ level compared with a standard carton pack.

Elise Bijkerk, Marketing Director at Arla Foods Germany, said: “The SIGNATURE PACK from SIG is a great match for our Arla BIO Weidemilch. Consumers that choose for our pure Arla BIO Weidemilch also have an increasingly strong interest in sustainable packaging. With the value-added pack from SIG, we can demonstrate our commitment to transparency and our holistic approach to sustainability across the value chain. We are happy to be the first company to use SIGNATURE PACK and to be able to offer consumers in Germany this solution.”

Promoting environmental sustainability

SIGNATURE PACK cartons are made from 77% paper board from wood and 23% plant-based polymers through mass balancing, a process that means an equivalent amount of bio-based feedstock went into the manufacturing of the polymers. The mass balancing is certified through internationally recognised third parties.

The packs are aluminium-free and their carbon footprint is 72% lower than a standard SIG carton pack of the same format, based on a life cycle assessment (CB-100732 of 02.03.2018) carried out by independent experts using the ISO 14040 international standard.

These credentials are displayed on Arla’s organic milk packs, together with the FSC label which shows consumers that the wood-based content comes from well-managed forests and other controlled sources in accordance with FSC requirements.

The polymers that make up the rest of the SIGNATURE PACK cartons, including the barrier and the spout, are linked to 100% plant-based material using recognised and audited certification schemes to ensure traceability and accountability.

Martin Herrenbrueck, President and General Manager Europe at SIG, commented: “With Arla, we have found a partner who shares our vision of creating a more sustainable future by doing more for the environment and reducing the consumption of fossil resources. By choosing the SIGNATURE PACK, Arla is getting the benefits of a global innovation that better cares for the environment and caters for consumer needs.”

Top image: Arla BIO - SIGNATURE PACK.