Elopak helps dairy companies deliver on their environmental values

For many dairy companies choosing the right packaging is no longer just about keeping their product fresh. It’s also a chance to demonstrate what they stand for, by selecting a packaging option that promotes their company’s values such as sustainability and environmental responsibility.

These priorities were high on the agenda for German dairy Nordseemilch when, in April 2022, they decided to package their high animal welfare milk (Tierwohl-Milch) using Elopak’s new tethered cap: the Pure-TwistFlip.

Unlike conventional screw caps, the Pure-TwistFlip is designed to stay attached to the opening of the carton throughout its entire lifecycle, ensuring that it is disposed of and recycled appropriately. This conforms with the European Union’s directive on single-use plastics, which is due to come into force in 2024 and is aimed at reducing the impact of marine littering.

For Nordseemilch, the decision to launch the Pure-TwistFlip chimed well with the company’s overall environmental values. As the dairy’s managing director Christoph Bossmann explained, “Animal welfare and more sustainable milk production are very important to us. But equally sustainable packaging is needed to position and market our products accordingly. As one of the innovation leaders in the German dairy industry, we want to fly the flag and bring the new tethered closures to the market.

As well as being fully recyclable and helping to protect the oceans, the smallest Pure-TwistFlip for fresh products is also Elopak’s lightest screw-cap to date, meaning it helps companies to reduce their overall use of plastics. In addition, the PureTwistFlip has a highly intuitive design, which even children and senior citizens have no problem opening.

The Pure-TwistFlip was brought to the market in close partnership with NordseeMilch, who were the first company to put the new closure on the shelves. Elopak’s Vice President for Region Europe North Stephen Naumann reflects that “We have been working closely and trustingly with NordseeMilch for over 20 years. At the time, it was the first dairy in northern Germany to offer fresh milk in our Pure-Pak gable packaging with a screw cap. We are very pleased that we can now also set this milestone with NordseeMilch as a partner at our side.”

More dairies are now set to follow NordseeMilch’s example, providing a packaging solution that helps safeguard not only their products but the environment too. Fortunately, the transition to tethered caps couldn’t be simpler, as Elopak’s chief technology officer Wolfgang Buchkremer points out:

“The change to our new Pure-TwistFlip cap can be implemented on existing filling lines with relatively little technical and time expenditure,” he said. “With the professional support of our on-site team of technicians, we will make the transition to this new generation of carton closures as easy as possible for our customers.”

Consumer testing carried out by Elopak shows that this transition sits well with shoppers, who not only value the new closure’s environmental benefits but also its convenience and ease of use. Of those surveyed, 67% said they would pick the tethered cap as their first choice compared to other closures.

“I think it is better for the environment if the closure stays on the package,” explained one respondent, while another noted, “It is the best solution for me … not because of the environment but out of pure practicality. I like to have everything in one place.”

By adopting new packaging innovations such as the Pure-TwistFlip, dairy companies can better deliver on their customer’s priorities as well as help to promote their own corporate values. By working in collaboration with dairies around the world, Elopak strives to continually provide the types of innovations that make this possible.

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Dairy Industries International