Tetra Pak and Spanish seafood producer Jealsa have introduced a carton pack for shelf-stable tuna.
The product uses the Tetra Recart format and was introduced in Sweden last month through retailer Axfood in a 200ml pack.
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The packaging will also be offered to food manufacturers and brand owners in other markets.
The new format is presented as a paper-based option in a category long dominated by metal cans.
The project was developed jointly by Tetra Pak and Jealsa, bringing together packaging and seafood processing capabilities.
According to the companies, it can be used for several shelf-stable tuna products, including spreads, flakes, shredded tuna and chunks, with further tuna formats expected to follow.
The pack has a lower carbon footprint than steel cans and glass jars in the same category.
It stated that emissions are 85% lower than steel cans and 83% lower than glass jars, and that this would amount to 21,000 tonnes less CO₂ per one million cans at scale.
The package contains up to 71% FSC-certified paper from responsibly managed, renewable forests.
Tetra Pak packaging solutions executive vice-president Tatiana Liceti said: “This is true packaging innovation in a category that has looked the same for generations.
“With the industry’s first carton for shelf-stable tuna in Tetra Recart, we are giving producers and brands a new way to stand out on shelf to protect and grow market share, support cost-competitive, scalable production, and modernise with a paper-based alternative to cans, while contributing to more sustainable food systems through smarter production and distribution.”
After the Swedish launch, Jealsa plans to market products in Tetra Recart under its own labels, Rianxeira, Mare Aperto and Robinson Crusoe, as well as for third-party brands.
Jealsa president Jesús Alonso Escurís said: “In Jealsa’s 68-year history in shelf-stable seafood, we have always been committed to innovation.
“The launch of this market-leading product sets a new benchmark for the industry. Through our collaboration with Tetra Pak, we’ve brought a game-changing packaging solution to market, combining their expertise in innovative formats with our long-standing heritage in high-quality seafood.”
