Finnish dairy company Valio has announced that all of its milk, buttermilk, yoghurt and cream cartons will be made from plant-based materials by the end of 2018.
The group's new gable-top cartons will now have a carbon footprint that is 50% less impactful than conventional gable-top packaging.
“In our sustainability programme, we are committed to offering consumers the world's most sustainable dairy packaging solutions," said Tanja Virtanen-Leppä, head of packaging at Valio.
"Now we are stepping up the phased adoption of fully plant-based gable tops and start switching over to more of these environment-smart packages.”
Environmental Efforts
Valio says that these new cartons will have a significant effect on the environment, as all components are made from plant-based materials.
The carton is made from paperboard covered with thin, watertight plastic layers, while the screw cap is made from a similar plastic. The paperboard is made from renewable wood fibre, and the plant-based plastic is made from bioethanol, a by-product of the sugar-cane industry.
“The amount of products now switching over to plant-based cartons is significant," added Virtanen-Leppä.
"We are talking about approximately 250 million gable tops a year. This way, we cut packaging-related CO2 emissions by 3,140 tonnes annually. This amount of CO2 emissions is equivalent to driving 412 times around the world with an average car.”
The dairy company says that the new cartons can still be recycled the same way as conventional packages.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Sarah Harford. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
