Kategorie:
Products & Packaging
27.02.2025

80% less plastic: Ďumbier switches from PET to Pure-Pak®

By switching from PET bottles to Pure-Pak® Sense cartons in Natural Brown Board, Ďumbier has reduced its plastic consumption for packaging in the chilled fresh food segment by more than 80% - one of many good arguments for opting for cartonboard instead of plastic.

The Ďumbier Agricultural Cooperative, named after the highest mountain in Slovakia’s Low Tatras National Park, proudly refers to itself as the "most modern and largest small dairy in Slovakia." The cooperative exclusively processes fresh milk from its own barn and pasture, transforming it into dairy products and handcrafted “Parenica,” a traditional Slovak cheese specialty, on the same day at the farm.

Responsibility for the environment – Agravital’s core brand values:

Regionally sourced animal feed
Short transport distances for milk
Fresh processing directly at the producer
100% control over product quality
Eco-friendly packaging concept
Production in the pristine nature of the Horehronie region at the edge of Low Tatras National Park

A commitment to artisanal quality and modern dairy and packaging technology go hand in hand at the cooperative, located on the outskirts of Brezno. Under the Agravital brand, the cooperative supplies local retailers—from small shops to supermarket chains such as Kaufland and COOP. Products are even available in vending machines.

Previously, Ďumbier bottled its products in PET bottles with plastic caps. One of the primary goals of the cooperative's packaging transition was to adopt a visibly more environmentally friendly solution. Elopak’s team for the Slovak market had already been in close contact with Ďumbier, ensuring that the upcoming replacement of its filling technology would rely on a versatile system solution from Elopak. 

„We entered milk processing as farmers to provide consumers with high-quality, farm-made products. A premium product also deserves premium, timeless packaging with an appealing design. That’s why we decided to switch to packaging that is more ecological and better recyclable than PET.“
Peter Lukáč, General Director, Ďumbier Cooperative

The Pure-Pak® System promise: a custom fit for every brand

Don’t adapt your product—let us adapt our concept: Elopak designs innovative, eco-friendly packaging solutions with its Pure-Pak® gable-top cartons, tailoring them precisely to customer needs with comprehensive services and personalized support.

On the production side, Elopak ensures the highly efficient and smooth operation of filling systems. This complete system provides customers with a wide range of solutions, enabling them to develop the optimal packaging concept in close partnership with Elopak—aligned with their product and brand strategy.

Pure-Pak® Sense with Natural Brown Board reduces plastic consumption

By transitioning from PET bottles to Pure-Pak® Sense cartons made from renewable materials, Agravital is reducing plastic consumption in its chilled fresh segment by more than 80%—just one of many compelling reasons to choose cartons over plastic. A total of twelve products will be gradually relaunched in the new climate-friendly and award-winning Elopak Pure-Pak® Sense cartons made from Natural Brown Board, alongside two new product launches. Natural Brown Board is available in various fill sizes and base formats, from 250ml to 1L, and can be combined with additional sustainable features.

Beyond environmental benefits, the switch was driven by the high efficiency of the filling machine and the positive brand perception among consumers at the point of sale. The great flexibility of the installed machine also allows Agravital to fill all packaging sizes with a single filling machine.

„The new filling line has quadrupled our filling capacity compared to the PET line. Until now, consumers in Eastern Europe have mainly associated carton packaging with long-life UHT milk. I am firmly convinced that consumer preference in the fresh segment will soon change thanks to marketing support and EU legislation.
Peter Lukáč, General Director, Ďumbier Cooperative

Agravital Products available in the climate-friendly Pure-Pak® Sense in Natural Brown Board:

Fresh, low-fat milk, and fermented dairy products in 1L Pure-Pak® Sense
Fresh whipping cream in 0.25L Pure-Pak® Classic
Milk and drinking yogurt in 0.5L Pure-Pak® Sense
Drinking yogurts in various flavors in 0.33L Pure-Pak® Sense
All products in Natural Brown Board for an authntic and sustainable brand presence

Pure Pak® Sense in Natural Brown Board conveys the brand values 

The new packaging concept perfectly conveys the company's commitment to environmental protection and resource conservation. The Pure Pak® Sense with Natural Brown Board was deliberately chosen to make the sustainable and artisanal claim visible as soon as you pick up the packaging. Its natural brown color and the visible fiber structure underline the ecological brand values at first glance. For General Manager Peter Lukáč, one of the main reasons for the switch to Pure Pak® was also that Agravital can provide consumers with much more information about the brand on the carton packaging than was ever possible on a bottle label. Agravital opted for the Pure-TwistFlip™ 29i as a practical closure option. This tethered cap offers a sustainable symbiosis of sustainability and convenience.

Naturally Pure-Pak®

Find out more about our award-winning, climate-friendly Natural Brown Board. 

The cooperation with Elopak fits perfectly with the environmentally friendly orientation of the Agravital brand and its strategy of offering fresh milk from its own production regionally in one of Slovakia's most attractive tourist regions.

For the downstream equipment, Elopak and Ďumbier worked together on the project with Slovakian automation specialist Devion s.r.o., which was responsible for the delivery and installation of the conveyor line and the wrapping machine. This strengthens the regional economy without long service and transportation routes - another sustainability factor.  

Utsikt, Norway

The Norwegian company DRIV Energi has been marketing a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging since October 2024 with its Utsikt windshield wiper fluid in cartons. The 2-liter D-PAK™ saves 50 grams of plastic and 300 grams of CO2 per carton. Customers appreciate the recyclability and easy handling, especially the ease of pouring.

Sill, France

To mark the 30th anniversary of its partnership with Elopak, Sill Enterprises is launching the new Knorr & La Potagère brand in France, whose first product is a range of three new gazpacho soup recipes in Pure-Pak® Sense Aseptic cartons. An aseptic filling line installed in 2024 enables products to be filled with different carton configurations and sizes, as well as with and without an aluminum barrier.

Optimel, Netherlands

Optimel launches a drinking yogurt in the Netherlands in the flavors strawberry-banana and peach-pear in the 1000ml carton Pure-Pak® Sense from Elopak. Rich in protein and calcium, with 0% fat and no added sugar, it is a good choice for a vital start to the day or as a protein-rich snack after exercise.

Rude Health, UK

Rude Health is launching a protein-rich soy drink with no unnecessary extras in Pure-Pak® Sense Aseptic from Elopak in the UK – unthickened and made from sustainably grown soybeans. Spring water, soybeans, calcium carbonate and sea salt are the only ingredients. The drink is sugar- and gluten-free, which rounds off its health-promoting profile.