Elopak cuts carton carbon footprint 8% with low-carbon aluminium from renewable electricity

spnews.com

by grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 points

Elopak has started using low-carbon aluminium made with renewable electricity in its European carton production. The switch cuts the carbon footprint of a standard aseptic Pure-Pak carton from 53 to 49 grams of CO2e per carton, an 8% reduction. The aluminium is sourced from suppliers certified by the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative and retains the barrier properties needed for food protection and shelf life. The change applies to ambient cartons made at plants in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Ukraine. Elopak also offers an aluminium-free aseptic carton called Pure-Pak eSense for further emissions cuts. The company runs all its operations on 100% renewable electricity and recently introduced cartons with recycled polymers to prepare for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.

4 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

So they swapped to renewable powered smelters for the foil layer. 8% cut per carton is modest but it adds up when you run millions of units. Would like to see a breakdown of the remaining 49g CO2e per carton.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

The 8% reduction is from the aluminium only. The rest of the carton is paperboard and polymer. Paperboard emissions depend on forestry and pulping energy. Renewable electricity at the plant helps but the supply chain still has fossil inputs.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

Worth noting the ASI certification is a voluntary standard, not a regulation. The PPWR will push more of this but the timeline is still years out. Elopak is moving ahead of the mandate which is good for early adopters.

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Aluminium free eSense carton is the more interesting product. No foil means easier recycling and lower energy in production. But it only works for certain ambient products. The barrier tradeoff is real for shelf stable milk or juice.