Tetra Pak and MAX IV collaborate on groundbreaking research for sustainable food packaging

Tetra Pak has partnered with MAX IV, the world's most advanced synchrotron radiation laboratory, to spearhead innovative research into eco-friendly food packaging made from fibre-based materials.

The primary goal of this research is to uncover groundbreaking insights into the nanostructure of fibre-based materials, starting with the optimisation of paper straw material compositions.

This marks the first-ever industrial research and development project at ForMAX, a state-of-the-art research facility that specialises in the study of forest-based materials. Located at the MAX IV Laboratory in Lund, Sweden, this facility is poised to revolutionise the way we think about sustainable packaging.

As the global demand for safe, nutritious food continues to grow, the scarcity of raw materials has become a pressing concern. In response, there is an urgent need to develop more sustainable packaging solutions that use fewer of these precious resources. By leveraging novel paper-based materials, we can create new opportunities for sustainable packaging while ensuring food safety, recyclability, durability against moisture, and meeting the increased demands for sustainability.

Eva Gustavsson, Vice President Materials & Package, Tetra Pak, says: "A fundamental understanding of the structure and properties of materials is crucial as we work towards developing the package of the future. Our ambition is to provide the world's most sustainable food package, and experiments at ForMAX will clearly support us in this mission. The package of the future needs to be fully recyclable and have a low environmental impact. Using renewable materials and increasing the use of fibre-based material within packages will be vital. With this research, Tetra Pak is helping to uncover fresh insights into plant-based materials as a basis for future innovations."

Kim Nygård, Manager, ForMAX beamline, MAX IV says: "The experiment conducted at ForMAX is a milestone for both academia and industry. The research station is the first of its kind and will facilitate both fundamental and applied industrial research on how new, sustainable materials can be used going forward. We are proud to support Tetra Pak in its development of sustainable packaging materials for the future."

This article was originally published by Tetra Pak.