Speaking at Pack Expo, in Las Vegas, Suley Muratoglu, VP marketing and product management USA and Canada, Tetra Pak, told FoodProductionDaily it is not a direct move away from cans as each packaging system has its own place in the market but he did see retailer efficiencies driving this movement.
“There is a strong movement for carton packaging coming to the shelves and there are many reasons for it including consumer preference and manufacturer and retailer efficiencies,” he said.
“Consumers are looking for fresher products, such as soup for example. Manufacturers are looking to attract customers with a different image or packaging to entice shoppers in the supermarket aisle.”
Flavored milk cartons
Showcasing its portfolio of products at the tradeshow including its Tetra Evero aseptic 1,000ml bottle for white milk, Muratoglu said the company was planning to further expand into flavored milk packaging.
“The Tetra Evero is a composite structure that incorporates two packaging systems, the body is a carton but the top is a plastic injected head. It has the benefits of both worlds,” he added.
“The way it is designed means after consumption just by pressing a certain point the plastic and carton separates so they can go to different recycling streams.
“There is a lot of activity happening in the dairy space right now. Flavored milk products are available everywhere and we plan to provide more shelf stable, aseptic packages for them in the coming years.”
Sustainability
He added there were no new challenges in the industry as the ones that were out there had been there for a long time.
“We see a more comprehensive approach to sustainability as a business model not just an environmental focus. Choices on recyclable packaging and information on this has become a lot clearer thanks to consumer demand and this will continue in the long term,” he said.