Swiss packaging giant Tetra Pak (Lausanne; www.tetrapak.com) has recently announced that all packaging produced in Brazil will be using bio-based LDPE. Though the decision initially impacts the Brazilian market, the Swiss company says it plans to expand the process to other global markets. Initially announced in June 2013 – see Plasteurope.com of 28.06.2013 – the initiative involves utilising sugar cane in the production of the LDPE, which is supplied by thermoplastic resins producer Braskem (São Paulo / Brazil; www.braskem.com.br).

When combined with paperboard, the bio-based LDPE lifts the content of materials from renewable sources to as much as 82% in a “Tetra Brik Aseptic” 1,000 ml base package, the company explained.

The announcement comes not long after Coca-Cola Brazil became the first company to use the new packaging process for its juice beverages in February as part of what Tetra Pak says was a pilot phase. Now, the plan is to extend the solution to its 150 customers which source from Tetra Pak Brazil, and which the Swiss say, amounts to more than 13 bn packs annually.

“We are particularly proud be the first in the industry to use bio-based LDPE in carton packages,” noted Charles Brand, a marketing vice president at Tetra Pak, adding, “We have set an ambition to develop a 100% renewable package, building on the average of 70% today and this launch is an important step in that direction.”

According to Tetra Pak, the cartons made with Braskem’s bio-based LDPE have the same physical and chemical properties as traditional fossil fuel-derived polyethylene. The company added that no machinery modifications are necessary when switching to the new packaging materials process.