August 3, 2022

Plant-Based drinks in Pure-Pak®– The flight to new heights continues

Healthier and more sustainable – these are the benefits many consumers associate with a plant-based diet. This is one of the reasons why this segment is booming – especially plant-based drinks, which for many have become a real alternative to conventional milk.
Reason enough to take a look at the market development in the area of plant-based drinks as well as interesting product launches in our Pure-Pak® beverage carton.

Young and dynamic:
there is still a lot of movement in the market for milk alternatives

Milk alternatives grew across almost all segments in 2021 compared to the previous year. Ready-to-eat desserts recorded extremely dynamic growth (volume development +118%). Plant-based drinks also continued to show impressive growth rates of +30%.
Plant-based drinks account for 85% of the market volume of milk alternatives. Yoghurt, ready-to-eat desserts, cream and curd share the remaining 15% of the market volume, with yoghurt accounting for the lion's share with more than 10%.
Source: GfK Consumer Panel FMCG (gross sample 30.000 households) I Year 2021 Milk product alternatives I D-Total

This is what consumers say in Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Poland

Source: Mintel 2021; Dairy alternatives – Europe – 2021 – Topline Questions

The market research company Mintel has looked into the question of how plant-based drinks should evolve in order for their success to continue. Here are the top 3 recommendations:

Taste, along with price, is cited by consumers as the primary reason for rejecting plant-based milk. Therefore, it is important to find a better balance between taste, cost and sustainability.
Many consumers are turning to milk alternatives because of their better environmental credentials. However, competition between plant-based alternatives is also fierce. For new plant-based ingredients (e.g. potatoes) to be successful, they need to demonstrate an even better sustainable profile than established variants – such as oats, soya or almond.
Health-conscious consumers especially are sceptical about the nutritional content of plant-based drinks, which are often not on eye level with cow’s milk. In future, manufacturers should make sure that products also score in this respect and are rich in protein, vitamins and potassium.
Source: Mintel, What will the next plant based milk look like, 21.12.2021

Marktradar:

The Green Dairy produces for IKEA

The Swedish plant-based experts at The Green Dairy have been supplying three different plant-based oat drinks for the IKEA furniture chain since March. In 14 European countries, consumers can find a natural oat drink, a chocolate-flavoured oat drink and a barista oat drink in the Swedish Food Market. The aseptically filled, shelf-stable drinks come in 1L Pure-Pak® Sense Aseptic cartons with corner panel.
Hafermilch Ikea Verpackung
"We aim to produce our products as sustainable as they can be, and we work with packaging partners to ensure the most environmentally friendly options. In this case, the Pure-Pak® Sense carton was the best packaging option."
Ingvar Wirfelt, Business Development Manager, The Green Dairy

Lidl also relies on Pure-Pak®

Lidl in Sweden offers a barista oat drink in the 1L Pure-Pak® Sense Aseptic carton under the Vemondo brand. The product is filled at The Green Dairy, which is experiencing annual growth rates of 100% due to the increasing demand for vegan milk alternatives. The Green Dairy was founded in 2017. Elopak’s sustainable beverage carton has been used for the packaging since the first launch.
Vemondo Milchverpackungen Lidl
"Scandinavian produce is well known for its highest quality and food safety standards. Since the first oat drinks from The Green Dairy in 2018, demand has spread from small independent brands to major international players and private labels. All companies are investing in plant-based alternatives."
JÖRGEN BJÖRNSON, Key Account Manager at Elopak in Sweden

Lidl expands its fresh food counter with Royal A-ware

In the Netherlands, Lidl has launched two new plant-based drinks in Pure-Pak® beverage cartons. Under the Vemondo brand, a natural oat drink and a mango, ginger and lime flavoured oat drink are available at the fresh food counter. Another, chocolate-flavoured oat drink is to follow in autumn. The products are filled at the Dutch dairy Royal A-ware, which has been working closely with Elopak since 2013.
"Sustainability through our packaging is a big focus area for Lidl. Reducing the climate footprint for all our products is key, as is less waste volume. Food waste is a huge topic, and we do every single thing we can to reduce food waste – and the Pure-Pak® Sense aseptic cartons with their easy folding feature to squeeze out the last drop were hugely appealing for these new products."
Björn Sterner, Strategic Buyer from Lidl Sweden

Tesco launches Wicked Kitchen

Tesco has launched a range of plant-based barista drinks in Pure-Pak® under its own brand Wicked Kitchen in the UK. Consumers can choose from four varieties: oat, soya, almond and coconut. The retailer’s new plant-based drinks are filled by García Carríon.
Elopak Verpackung Wicked Coconut Milk
Elopak aseptic filling technology - Elopak website
Elopak milk alternatives article
McBride, Italy
Product:
D-PAK™

Cleaning reimagined: Actiff refill packs in D-PAK™ cartons

McBride is launching new refill packs for its household cleaning brand Actiff in D-PAK™ cartons in Italy. By introducing carton packaging, the company underlines its commitment to sustainability and innovation while responding to evolving consumer expectations.

The Actiff range includes 1litre cartons for laundry detergent and fabric softener, as well as 500 ml cartons for dishwashing liquid. By making the switch, McBride reduces the use of plastic, supports recycling and offers consumers a practical and attractive alternative to conventional plastic packaging – while ensuring strong shelf visibility.

Polmlek Group Jibal, Morokko
Product:
Pure-Pak® Sense Aseptic Kartons

New to the market: Jibal launches first kefir in Pure‑Pak® cartons in Morocco 

Jibal, the Moroccan subsidiary of the Polmlek Group, introduced its first kefir in Pure‑Pak® cartons to the Moroccan market in autumn 2025. The premium launch targets health‑conscious consumers and addresses the growing functional dairy segment in North Africa. With this market entry, Jibal adopts a premium positioning and uses the Pure‑Pak® carton as a packaging solution strongly associated with freshness, naturalness, and health. The product launch marks an important milestone for the brand and supports Polmlek’s expansion in one of the region’s most dynamic growth markets. 

Ehrmann Cornish Dairy, UK
Product:
Pure‑Pak®

Freshness re‑packaged: Trewithen Cream in Pure‑Pak® cartons

Ehrmann Cornish Dairy, home to the Trewithen brand, is converting three of its fresh cream products from HDPE plastic bottles to Pure‑Pak® cartons from Elopak. In collaboration with Elopak, a new filling line has been installed at the company’s site in the Glynn Valley as part of a significant investment following the acquisition by the Ehrmann Group.

From this autumn, Cornish whipping cream, double cream and buttermilk will be available in 300 ml, 500 ml and 1,000 ml cartons. By making the switch, Trewithen reduces its use of plastic, simplifies logistics and offers retailers a sustainable, shelf‑ready alternative. The move marks an important milestone for the heritage brand and has already secured a nationwide Tesco listing across the UK.

H2O4U, Finnland
Product:
Pure‑Pak®

Pure water, newly packaged: JÄÄDE in Pure‑Pak® cartons

The Finnish company H2O4U is introducing JÄÄDE, one of the purest waters in the world, for the first time in fibre‑based cartons from Elopak. The naturally filtered mineral water is filled at the company’s production facility in Lahti, Finland, where it originates from deep glacial formations that were formed around 10,000 years ago.

The products are available in 330 ml and 500 ml Mini Pure‑Pak® cartons. By introducing carton packaging, H2O4U is choosing a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic packaging and reinforcing its commitment to providing clean and safe drinking water in a resource‑efficient way – while ensuring strong shelf visibility.