SIG launches the first 1-liter aseptic carton without aluminum, reducing carbon emissions while maintaining full barrier protection and recyclability.
SIG has unveiled the world’s first 1-liter aseptic carton pack made entirely without an aluminum layer, using its innovative SIG Terra Alu-free + Full Barrier material. This groundbreaking development represents a major stride in sustainable packaging, as it significantly reduces the already low carbon footprint of SIG’s standard aseptic cartons. Previously successful in single-serve applications, this technology has now been expanded into the juice segment and is available in a multi-serve format for the first time.
The initial rollout of this packaging solution will be through a partnership with ALDI in parts of Germany, where grape juice under ALDI’s Rio d’oro brand will be sold in the new packaging. These products are being produced and filled at Quargentan, an Italian food and beverage manufacturer, using its existing SIG Midi 12 Aseptic filling machine—without any compromise on performance. The introduction of this alu-free carton marks a 29% reduction in carbon emissions compared to traditional multi-serve aseptic packaging.
SIG Terra Alu-free + Full Barrier provides the same level of protection as conventional aseptic cartons that include an aluminum layer, maintaining product shelf life of up to 12 months. This material is available at a global scale and can be processed on existing SIG filling lines with only minor adjustments, making it a plug-and-play upgrade for producers. High-speed filling is fully supported, reaching up to 24,000 packs per hour for smaller cartons and 15,000 for larger formats. Additionally, SIG’s flexible filling lines enable manufacturers to switch seamlessly between alu-free and standard materials as needed.
José Matthijsse, President & General Manager Europe at SIG, highlighted the company’s long-term sustainability ambition: “One of our main goals is to increase the paper content in our aseptic cartons to at least 90%, including the closure, by 2030. This move will further reduce carbon emissions and help create a regenerative food packaging system. The new packaging structure is already made from over 80% paper and reduces the number of raw materials used from three to two.”
This innovative structure eliminates the aluminum layer, replacing it with an ultra-thin polymer coating that protects the contents from oxygen, light, moisture, and aroma loss. In doing so, it simplifies the recycling process and reduces the environmental footprint. When paired with forest-based polymers, this solution can reduce the carbon footprint of multi-serve cartons by as much as 61%—all while ensuring barrier protection, product integrity, and line efficiency.
SIG has long led the charge in alu-free packaging. The company was the first in the industry to introduce aluminum-free aseptic cartons in 2010 for plain dairy liquids. Since then, SIG has distributed more than 4 billion such packs and continues to expand its SIG Terra range of sustainable, aluminum-free packaging innovations.
