Valio, Finland's largest dairy, trailed Tetra Pak's one litre Tetra Rex Bio-based carton with its Eila lactose-free semi-skimmed milk between January and March.
Now, following "positive response" from Helsinki-based Valio and Finnish consumers, Tetra Pak plans to make the 100% renewable carton available worldwide.
The carton, which combines Braskem bio-based plastic derived from sugar cane and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paperboard, will be deployed "in the not too distant future" to European customers, Christina Chester, product director for gable top cartons, Tetra Pak, told DairyReporter.com.
"We've had interest from customers in all parts of Europe, including Central and Southern Europe," she said.
Tetra Pak, Chester said, could begin supplying the carton "within a month."
Talks are also underway with dairy processors in "markets much further away."
"We haven't got that far with discussions," she said. "So it might take a bit longer."
"Easy to communicate"
When it begun its trial of the Tetra Rex Bio-based carton in January, Valio became the "first company in the world to sell products to consumers in carton packaging made entirely from plant-based materials."
During the trial period, which ran between mid-January and mid-March, Valio gathered feedback from Finnish consumers.
"It is very easy for consumers to understand," said Chester. "They liked to work with this solution because it is so easy to communicate."
"The feedback from consumers was enough for them to continue," said Chester.
The Finnish dairy plans to expand its use of the Tetra Rex Bio-based carton, which is now available in sizes from 250ml to two litres, to other chilled milk products.
“We’re aware they’re expanding with other products and sizes," said Chester.
It also plans to adopt Tetra Pak's 100% bio-based closures for all gable top cartons, Tetra Pak added.
Environmental impact
Valio, like many Scandinavian dairies, is keen to minimise the environmental impact of its operations, said Chester.
"It fits with the vision of their brands," she said.
"Consumers in Scandinavia are quite aware of their environmental impact."
"That's one of the reasons Valio were so keen to try it."
"The beauty of buying a package like this is being able to do something to contribute," Chester said. "Buying a carton of milk is easy to do."