Packaging company Tetra Pak is the first to offer carton packaging that features caps made from recycled polymers. In partnership with Elvir, a subsidiary of milk processor Savencia Fromage & Dairy, the resealable screwcap can be found in Elle & Vire products.

The HeliCap™ 23 cap solution is integrated in Tetra Brik® Aseptic 1L Slim carton packages. It features an easy-to-open design and a tamper evidence ring that assures the consumer that the product has not been previously opened. Composed of a mixture of recycled and non-recycled materials, the item is manufactured according to the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) Chain of Custody Procedure. The amount of recycled materials are tracked by Tetra Pak throughout the supply chain.

Widespread adoption of this product helps improve circularity by reusing plastic that would have ended up in landfills. It also shows Tetra Pak’s campaign in reducing dependency on virgin, fossil-based resources.

The cap is manufactured in Tetra Pak’s Châteaubriant facility in Loire-Atlantique, France which features RSB Advanced Products certification.

Chakib Kara, Managing Director France & Benelux at Tetra Pak, commented: “We are extremely proud of the work being done alongside Elle & Vire. Both teams are inspired and motivated by a shared commitment – to develop more sustainable food systems. Together, we are contributing to making recycling more economically viable, while addressing increasing consumer preference for responsible companies. Comparative studies show that, already today, our paper-based carton packages have a lower carbon footprint than alternative options, such as glass, plastic or metal packages. Deploying cartons integrating attributed recycled polymers represents a key step in our journey towards the ultimate sustainable food package, one that is fully made of responsibly sourced renewable or recycled materials, fully recyclable and carbon neutral.”

Annick Renou, Global Marketing Director at Elvir, added: “By adopting caps which integrate attributed recycled polymers, Elle & Vire is a pioneer in circularity. Based on recent research, approximately three in four French consumers are concerned with environmental issues, and the same number say that their purchase intention increases if a brand is addressing sustainability issues. We are pleased to be benefiting from Tetra Pak’s expertise and ability to provide such an innovative and environmentally sound packaging solution. I am sure this will strengthen our leading position in the cream market, while meeting the increasing expectations of our consumers.”

Marco Marchetti, VP Packaging Materials, Sales & Distribution Solutions at Tetra Pak, concluded: “As a signatory of the Ellen MacArthur New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, Tetra Pak has pledged to incorporate a minimum of 10% recycled plastic content on average across carton packages sold in Europe by 2025. Having listened to Elle & Vire’s demands and activated our ecosystem of innovative partners, such as INEOS and RSB, who are helping us to move away from virgin, fossil-based resources, we are now one step closer to reaching this goal.”