Elopak sources low-carbon aluminium for cartons

Packaging supplier Elopak has started sourcing low-carbon aluminium made with renewable electricity in its European carton production, to reduce the climate impact of its packaging materials. The low-carbon aluminium is now used in the company’s standard ambient cartons manufactured at plants in the Netherlands, Denmark and Ukraine.

The transition to low-carbon aluminium results in an immediate 8% reduction in the carbon footprint of Elopak’s standard aluminium ambient cartons. As a result of this change, the carbon footprint of a standard aseptic Pure-Pak carton has been reduced from 53 to 49 g CO₂e per carton, based on cradle-to-gate calculations.

Commenting on the launch, Emilie Olderskog, global head of sustainability at Elopak, says, “By sourcing aluminium produced with renewable electricity, we are taking another concrete step in reducing the climate impact of our packaging materials. The introduction of low-carbon aluminium delivers an immediate and measurable reduction in the footprint of our standard ambient cartons, while allowing us to retain the functional properties that are critical for food protection and shelf life.”

Aluminium plays an important role in ambient cartons by providing an effective barrier against light and oxygen and by enabling aseptic sealing. These properties help extend product shelf life and reduce food waste, without the need for preservatives.

“Multiple life-cycle assessments have shown that, in many applications, our liquid packaging cartons can have a lower carbon footprint than plastic packaging formats,” Olderskog continues. “At Elopak, we continue to improve the environmental performance of our cartons and work with our customers as they seek to reduce the climate impact of their packaged products.”