Tetra Pak is progressing the commercialisation of an ice cream wrapper made from up to 85 per cent paper, with European producer trials under way ahead of a phased rollout beginning in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The new Tetra Pak Ice Cream Wrap extends the company’s paper-based packaging portfolio into ice cream, offering producers an additional wrapping option designed to protect products throughout the cold chain.
The paper is sourced from FSC-certified forests and other controlled sources. The wrapper incorporates a paper-based barrier and other protective layers, with the remaining materials including polymer, ink and lacquer.
Tetra Pak says the multilayer structure has been developed to support product protection, efficient material use and reliable operation in ice cream manufacturing. The material has a grammage of 53 grams per square metre. The company confirmed with PKN that the wrapper is designed for recovery through existing paper recycling streams.
Michael Wu, Tetra Pak Oceania’s new managing director, said the development comes as brands across the region explore ways to differentiate their products and respond to changing consumer expectations.
“Tetra Pak Ice Cream Wrap is an exciting example of how packaging can help create new consumer experiences, combining the familiar look and feel of paper with the functionality required for ice cream products,” Wu said.
“It provides brands with an additional packaging option while supporting product performance throughout the value chain.”
The company points to research from Innova Market Insights showing that 24 per cent of consumers surveyed consider sustainability an important aspect of ice cream packaging, while 16 per cent prefer paper packaging for the category.
The findings come from Innova’s 2024 surveys across 11 markets, including the United States, China, India and several European countries. Sustainability in the research refers to recyclability and reusability.
Tetra Pak is validating the wrapper with ice cream producers in Europe, including Swedish family-owned company Triumf Glass. The trials will assess performance in live production environments and gather consumer insights ahead of wider commercialisation.
Triumf Glass marketing director Moa Frisk Lönnblom said the company was exploring the opportunities offered by the new wrap.
“It has the potential to offer consumers something genuinely different and help shape the future of ice cream packaging,” Lönnblom said.
Based in Sävedalen, outside Gothenburg, Triumf Glass produces approximately 18 million litres of ice cream annually and employs around 130 people.
Tetra Pak plans to begin the rollout in Europe before expanding to additional markets over time. An Oceania launch date has not been announced in the release.
