Tetra Pak has announced that dairy company Lee Strand’s fresh milk will be available in 1L Tetra Rex® plant-based packaging – the first in Ireland to be labelled as carbon neutral.

The Tetra Rex plant-based package is claimed as the world’s first, and still only, fully renewable beverage carton. It is FSC™ -certified and made entirely of paperboard, from responsibly managed forests and other controlled sources. The plastic is plant-based, made from Bonsucro certified sugarcane.

John O’Sullivan, managing director from County Kerry-based Lee Strand, said: “We’re proud to expand our product portfolio and support our customers as they look to make more sustainable choices. Tetra Pak’s approach to packaging aligns with our environmental outlook and we look forward to continuing this partnership with the addition of the 1L Tetra Rex Plant-based product.”

This coincides with Tetra Pak’s launch of its Carbon Neutral programme in Europe, achieving carbon neutrality for its Tetra Rex Plant-Based package. The goal of this programme is to remove all carbon impact from the entire lifecycle of the carton.

Tetra Pak says it is the first packaging company to offer customers the opportunity to label their packages with the Carbon Trust carbon neutral label. The Tetra Rex Plant-based packaging has been certified as carbon neutral, in accordance with the internationally recognised PAS 2060 standard by the Carbon Trust.

Lars Bengtsson, Cluster Leader Marketing Europe & Central Asia at Tetra Pak said: “This programme highlights our continued commitment to building a low carbon and climate neutral circular economy. We recognise the importance of helping our customers respond to consumer needs and reinforce their commitment to protecting the environment. The economy of the future must minimise carbon impact across the food and drink value chain and we believe we have a duty to support this with programmes like Carbon Neutral.”