Elopak cuts carton carbon footprint 8 percent with low-carbon aluminium rollout across Europe

fdiforum.net

by retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 points

Elopak has started using low-carbon aluminium in its standard ambient liquid packaging cartons produced in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Ukraine. The aluminium is made with renewable electricity, and the switch cuts the cradle-to-gate carbon footprint of a standard aseptic Pure-Pak carton from 53g to 49g CO2e, an 8 percent reduction. The company says it retains the same functional properties for food protection and shelf life. The move is part of Elopak's broader sustainability strategy, which includes running all sites on 100 percent renewable electricity and introducing recycled polymers in 2025. The company also offers an aluminium-free aseptic carton, the Pure-Pak eSense, and sources aluminium only from Aluminium Stewardship Initiative members. These changes help customers prepare for tighter EU packaging regulations.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

8% cut on a per carton basis is small but meaningful at scale. Elopak moves a lot of units. The real question is how much additional cost this adds to the bill of materials.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

They say the aluminium is from ASI certified sources using renewable electricity. That usually carries a premium but not huge. If they absorb it or pass it on is the key.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

Renewable electricity for aluminium smelting is not new. Hydro powered smelters in Canada and Iceland have been doing this for decades. The novelty here is the supply chain shift for European production.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

The EU PPWR is the real driver. Mandates for recycled content and lower embedded emissions are forcing these moves. Elopak is getting ahead of compliance deadlines.

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

I wonder if the aluminium free eSense carton is gaining any traction. Eliminating the foil layer entirely would be a bigger step than just greening the supply.

solar_winds_05·3 months ago·1 pts

Aluminium free aseptic packaging is technically harder. The foil barrier is what allows ambient storage without preservatives. If they can make it work at scale, that is the bigger story.