SIG has launched the first 1-liter aseptic cartons made with SIG Terra Alu-free + Full Barrier packaging material, which are now available in supermarkets. This is the world's first full-barrier packaging material for aseptic packaging. without aluminum layer, further reducing the already low carbon footprint of standard SIG carton packaging.
Following the success of this innovation in single-serve aseptic packaging, SIG is now expanding the aluminum-free option to the juice category and, for the first time, to a multi-serve format. In a first step, ALDI will offer grape juice under its own brand Rio d'Oro in this innovative packaging solution. in some areas of Germany, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of conventional multi-dose packaging by 29%. The products are produced and packaged at Quargentan, the Italian food and beverage producer, using its fully operational SIG Midi 12 aseptic filling machine.
SIG Terra Alu-free + Full Barrier offers the same full barrier protection as standard SIG aseptic packaging material and the same shelf life of up to 12 months. The packaging material is available globally on a large scale and integrates seamlessly into existing SIG filling lines, featuring high-speed capacities of up to 24.000 containers per hour for small packs and 15.000 containers per hour for multi-use formats. Switching between foil-free packaging material and standard packaging material is quick and easy at any time.
“At SIG, one of our goals is to increase the paper content of our aseptic carton packaging to at least 90%, including the closure, by 2030, which will enable further reductions in carbon emissions and create a regenerative food packaging system. To this end, we have developed this packaging structure, composed of more than 80% paper and reducing the number of raw materials from three to two,” he said. José Matthijsse, President and CEO of SIG for Europe"This revolutionary innovation has the potential to optimize the recycling process for aseptic carton packaging, requiring only the separation of the carton and polymers."
Pioneering solutions without an aluminum layer
The elimination of the aluminum layer from aseptic cartons, traditionally used to protect oxygen-sensitive products such as juices, plant-based drinks, or flavored milks, marks a significant step in reducing environmental impact. SIG Terra Alu-free + Full Barrier packaging material is made from over 80% paper andreplaces the aluminum layer with an ultra-thin polymer coating which protects products from oxygen, light, moisture, and aroma loss. This innovation reduces the number of raw materials from three to two and can reduce the carbon footprint of SIG multipurpose aseptic carton packs by up to 61% when combined with forest-based polymers, without compromising the full barrier function, shelf life, or filling line performance.
