May 20, 2022

Elopak launches Pure-Pak® eSense

There's no two ways about it: whether they're for juice, water, iced tea or milk, beverage cartons are far more sustainable compared with other types of packaging, especially when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions. And now we have reached the next milestone! Pure‑Pak® eSense is now available, enabling a wide range of options for making beverage packaging even more sustainable.
The latest member of the Pure‑Pak® family meets all requirements for aseptic filling while containing no aluminium. The aluminium barrier has been replaced by a blend of polyolefins in order to protect the valuable and often highly sensitive contents, ensuring that product protection and long shelf life are still guaranteed. At the same time, the packaging's CO2 footprint is reduced by around 30 percent compared with the conventional Pure‑Pak® aseptic carton.

Good to know

Highest renewable content*

By eliminating the aluminum barrier, Pure‑Pak® eSense has the highest share of renewable raw materials among our aseptic cartons. It also unlocks the potential of a fully renewable aseptic carton with the use of renewable polyethylene.

Lighter*

The absence of aluminium makes the packaging around four percent lighter. This reduces fuel consumption during transportation and makes Pure‑Pak® eSense the lightest packaging currently available compared with alternative products on the market.

Reduced emissionen*

The carbon footprint is approximately 30% lower compared with the standard aseptic carton and even up to 50% lower when renewable polyethylene is used instead of conventional, fossil PE.

Easier recycling

The simpler structure of the new composite material enables the paper fibres and the polyolefin barriers to be separated in one operation, making recycling processes easier.

Lowest plastic content*

In addition to containing the highest share of renewable materials, the Pure‑Pak® eSense also has the lowest plastic content level. Overall, Pure‑Pak® eSense is our most sustainable aseptic carton to date.

Only PE-based polyolefin

The carton contains no aluminium barrier. A blend of PE-based polyolefins is used instead.
*Compared with a standard Pure‑Pak® aseptic carton with aluminum barrier.
Based on internal, third party-reviewed cradle-to-gate calculations from the Dynamic Elopak Environmental Performance Tool (DEEP), version 11, 2021.

First products on shelf

The first company to bring the benefits of the Pure‑Pak® eSense carton to market is leading Spanish drinks manufacturer García Carrión.

They dare to be different being the first to offer Elopak⁠´⁠s alu-free aseptic packaging to their customers. García Carrión is utilizing the Pure‑Pak® eSense carton for a newly launched Private Label plant-based Barista drink that will soon be found in stores all across the UK.
“The arrival of the Pure‑Pak® eSense carton is very significant, as we are offering our customers in the aseptic segment an even more environmentally friendly option. Aluminium is a finite resource that does not replenish over time. Additionally, the production of aluminium is relatively energy-intensive and thus has a higher CO2 footprint than the other materials in beverage cartons.”
Marianne Groven, Director Sustainability at Elopak

A wide range of options:

The Pure‑Pak® eSense carton is available in the sizes 500 ml, 750 ml and 1 l.

1.5l, 1.75l and 2l as well as US sizes will be introduced at a later stage.
The carton will be available with a range of compatible aseptic closures. A closure-free solution, as already familiar from our fresh cartons, will follow. It reduces plastic consumption and lowers the CO2 footprint even further.
Pure‑Pak® eSense is suitable for both low acid and high acid products – including milk, juice and plant-based drinks.
Product integrity, as well as the safety and durability of the contents, are guaranteed even without the usual aluminium layer.
“Nowadays, consumers are constantly looking for ways to further reduce their environmental footprint without compromising on functionality. With the release of the Pure‑Pak® eSense carton, our customers will be able to offer more sustainable packaging for a wider range of products and with sizes and closure options to suit every need.”
Patrick Verhelst, CMO at Elopak
Pure‑Pak® eSense – Full press release
Website – Pure‑Pak® eSense
Utsikt, Norway
Product:
D-PAK™ Carton

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
Product:
Pure-Pak® Sense Aseptic

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
Product:
Pure-Pak® Sense

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
Product:
Pure-Pak® Sense Aseptic

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.