Manufacturer caps convenience with carton opening

Tetra Pak says that the Tetra Top Eifel O38 offers an easily resealable cap, with built in tamper evidence, which can cut down on secondary packaging costs for manufacturers of chilled dairy and juice products. The product was developed to tap consumer needs for convenience both at home and on the move, while meeting the challenges faced by food processors over packaging costs and environmental issues, according to the company. The cap, which has been designed with a 38mm opening, is made from a rigid plastic, which Tetra Pak claims allows easier stacking of the packaging while also eliminating need for wraparound boxes during transportation. The manufacturer also says that the development eliminates the need for a membrane underneath the cap, further cutting packaging material use from renewable paper board, consisting of 63 per cent paperboard and 36 per cent plastic. Aside from the purported processing benefits, Tetra Pak says independent research has found that the cap is also attractive to a consumer. Pointing to independent market research conducted by IHA-GfK in Switzerland, the carton top was favoured for opening, closing and tightness by a survey of consumers over plastic bottles, Tetra Pak said. The product is currently undergoing further market testing in Sweden, Germany and Switzerland, before a worldwide release next year.