Elopak is using low-carbon aluminium made with renewable electricity in its European carton production, reducing the carbon footprint of its standard aluminium ambient cartons by eight per cent.
The material is now used in standard ambient cartons manufactured at the company’s plants in the Netherlands, Denmark and Ukraine. The shift reduces the carbon footprint of a standard aseptic Pure-Pak carton from 53 to 49 g CO2e per carton, based on cradle-to-gate calculations.
Emilie Olderskog, global head of sustainability at Elopak, said, “By sourcing aluminium produced with renewable electricity, we are taking another concrete step in reducing the climate impact of our packaging materials. The introduction of low-carbon aluminium delivers an immediate and measurable reduction in the footprint of our standard ambient cartons, while allowing us to retain the functional properties that are critical for food protection and shelf life.”
Aluminium plays an important role in ambient cartons by providing a barrier against light and oxygen and enabling aseptic sealing. These properties extend product shelf life and reduce food waste without the need for preservatives.
Olderskog said, “Multiple life-cycle assessments have shown that, in many applications, our liquid packaging cartons can have a lower carbon footprint than plastic packaging formats. At Elopak, we continue to improve the environmental performance of our cartons and work with our customers as they seek to reduce the climate impact of their packaged products.”
Prior to the introduction of low-carbon aluminium, a standard ambient Pure-Pak carton had a carbon footprint of 53 g CO2e per carton. Following the transition, this is reduced to 49 g CO2e per carton, based on cradle-to-gate calculations.
Elopak also offers Pure-Pak eSense, an aluminium-free aseptic carton designed for ambient distribution, which the company says supports further emissions reductions and optimised recycling performance.
Elopak works exclusively with members of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), which sets requirements for responsible aluminium sourcing and environmental performance. The company is also advancing the recyclability of its cartons through material design and innovation.
Across its manufacturing operations and offices, Elopak runs on 100 per cent renewable electricity. The company said it introduced cartons made with recycled polymers in 2025, supporting preparedness for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) requirements.
As regulatory expectations and customer requirements evolve, Elopak said it remains focused on strengthening the environmental performance of its packaging portfolio and will continue to develop and scale solutions that support lower emissions, efficient resource use and improved recyclability, while enabling customers to meet their own sustainability targets.
