Spain’s largest dairy, CAPSA, is the first user for the new package format, which offers up to a half-year shelf life.

In mid-May, Tetra Pak launched the Tetra Evero™ Aseptic- the world’s first aseptic carton bottle for milk. The package intended for white milk combines the easy handling and pouring of a bottle with the environmental and cost advantages of a carton.

The first customer for Tetra Evero is Corporación Alimentaria Peñasanta (CAPSA), Spain’s largest dairy, which is launching with three new milk products for its Asturiana line of ambient products in a 1-L size. CAPSA president and CEO Pedro Astals says he wanted the dairy to be the first to market with the Tetra Evero since he first heard of it two years ago.

“For our most strategic project, we knew we had to have Tetra Evero Aseptic,” says Astals. “This package expresses evolution, a very advanced step in comparison with today’s packages. Tetra Evero Aseptic is the perfect match of a high value-added product with a highly developed package.”

German dairy is next

Another European dairy, Weihenstephan, one of Germany’s largest traditional dairies, plans to introduce the Tetra Evero Aseptic at the end of May 2011 to a select number of retail outlets in its first market test of the package.

“It stands out and is easily distinguishable on store shelves,” offers Astals. “It is stackable and easy to use. To me this is doubtlessly a winner.”

Tetra Evero Aseptic is initially aimed at the ambient white milk market, including non-oxygen sensitive milk. This will soon expand to cover a wide range of beverages, including flavored milk, cream and oxygen-sensitive milk formulations such as those containing omega 3, iron, zinc, and vitamin C.

The carton bottle is recyclable and made from FSC™-certified renewable paperboard and keeps milk fresh for up to six months. Among the new package’s other key attributes are:

Functionality: It brings convenience and added confidence to consumers with the world’s first one-step opening with a two-step safety feature. An ergonomic cylindrical shape with flat side panels means it’s easier for big and small hands to hold. The shape also provides the ideal angle for better pouring than other bottles, according to independent consumer research conducted in several European markets.

Branding: The attention-grabbing carton bottle grabs provides maximum branding impact, with printing possible across the entire surface of the package. There are two distribution solutions for Tetra Evero Aseptic: An open paperboard tray and film-shrink with a handle.

Production is via the Tetra Pak A6 iLine™, which has a capacity of 10,000 packs/hour. The supplier says that the compact system requires 30% less capital and offers 25% lower operating costs and requires half the electricity consumption than other aseptic bottling lines.

The Tetra Pak A6 iLine will first be available in Europe and South America.