Liquid packaging board
The beverage carton is disposable packaging made of composite materials for beverages and liquid foods.
It is made of plastic laminated cardboard, which is coated according to the application purpose on the inside. In this case, polyethylene, aluminum or EVOH is used. The box makes the composite shape and stability. The inner coating and - if available - the aluminum liner ensure the protection of the contents. The outer coating protects the board against wetting and enhances the barrier properties of the composite. By 1915 John van Wormer patented in the United States, a beverage carton, 1930 already milk was packaged in cardboard boxes. Also In 1930, Günter Meyer- hunting mountain patented his parchment package as "water resistant paper receptacle with folding clasp and equipment for its production " and should therefore not be the first patent on a gable top carton.
The introduction of the plastic screw caps has certainly led to greater acceptance of the package by the consumer. Prior to the opening of the gable bit cumbersome ( unhygenische and dripping spouts ) was.
Compared to other beverage packaging
The beverage carton competes with other packaging and has advantages and disadvantages:
Benefits
- The beverage carton is ideal for light and oxygen ( if with aluminum foil) opaque. Thus, the destruction of certain vitamins is slowed down.
- It is lighter than glass bottles.
- Beverage cartons take up less volume compared to bottles, which are stacked in boxes.
- Opposite the tube packaging (such as milk ) and the foil pouch (example: Capri Sun ) it is stackable on pallets without further packaging.
Disadvantages
- The beverage carton is suitable for carbonated drinks, which can generate strong overpressure.
- It is opaque. Thus, the level or decay are like mold growth is not visible.
- Due to the multi-layer structure results in an elaborate production and a more complicated recycling process than, for example mono-films.
- In the production can occur in contamination. 2005 in some UHT milk packs the chemical ITX ( isopropyl ) was found. Since 2006, the manufacturer Tetra Pak and ELOPAK have the use of ITX gradually reduced.
Conservation
The environmental impact of beverage cartons are controversial and have been evaluated over the past years different.
The one hand, beverage cartons recycled with different methods or be recycled and provide an alternative to the conventional returnable glass bottles or disposable containers made of PET dar. In contrast to these takes an empty beverage carton folded up less space and weighs much less, thereby transport less energy needed. It is therefore variously classified as an environmentally friendly form of packaging for carbonated drinks and advertised. The Federal Environment Agency has a comprehensive life cycle assessment for drinks packaging placed, stating inter alia, that between the use of returnable glass bottles and disposable beverage cartons, no comprehensive ecological advantage or disadvantage can be seen.
According to the Dual System Germany 2004 155.000 t used beverage cartons were collected in Germany, corresponding to a rate of about 65 %. The vast majority has been recovered in two paper mills in Germany: In Kreuzau in Düren is a plant of the paper mill Niederauer Mühle, another recycling plant, based in the Raubling near Rosenheim. More than 20% of the amount collected was recycled in a recycling plant in Finland the company Corenso United. The units or paper pulp fibers ( 75% ) are extracted after a washing process. The polyethylene layer associated with the aluminum (about 25% ) is used in waste incinerators and cement plants. The dual system of waste disposal provides that composite packaging, and thus beverage cartons are recycled. Due to the difficulty of recycling but partly also called upon to steer clear of composite packaging when shopping.
2009 cardboard packaging were about 125,000 tons recycled, according to the trade association. Are produced according to the Association of 210,000 tonnes a year. This quantity gives a per capita consumption of 2.5 kg per year in Germany. 63 % of them are recycled, disposed of 37% to other ways.
On the other hand, urged the German Environmental Aid in the spring of 2010, a revaluation of the displaced beverage cartons. A lower pulp content and a low recycling rate (35% as calculated by the Environmental Aid ) is the former classification as " environmentally beneficial " very questionable.
There are various methods to decompose beverage cartons in their components. Here, the simplest method is a washing method in which the film and, optionally, the aluminum can be removed in addition to the paper. The advertised in Brazil plasma separation plays no role in Europe. The PET lid can also be recycled.
Because of the criticism of the disposable packaging was in Austria a few years ago, the Öko-Box Sammelges. m. b. H. launched the empty beverage cartons supplying of the consumers of the material recycling of cardboard share.
Utilization
According to a study of the GMMs, Association for Packaging Research commissioned by the Federal Environment Ministry, the following quantities in the recycling of beverage cartons were implemented.
(1 ) from 2006: Amount of recycling Dual systems and industry solutions, according to the system operator, until 2005 Deployment amount, according to the ReCarton ( 2) GMM estimation (according to intectus, Dresden)
Source: GMM, Association for Packaging Research
An example of what can come of it is Tectan.
Manufacturer
Known manufacturers of beverage cartons are
- SIG combi bloc
- ELOPAK
- Italpack
- Tetra Pak