LCA Beverage Containers

Refillable and Non-refillable Beverage Containers: Germany 2002
An independent and peer-reviewed scientific study commissioned by the German Federal Environmental Agency, UBA, Berlin, in 2002 shows that drink cartons have a low environmental impact. The study compared the environmental performance of refillable and non-refillable beverage packages - plastic bottles, glass bottles, cans, and drink cartons. Cartons were the only non-refillable packages that were identified as equally environmentally favourable to refillable glass bottles, and were classified as ‘environmentally advantageous’ under German packaging law.

Link to German ministry study (pdf, in German)

Link to English summary of study (pdf)

Carton and PET bottles: Germany 2006
Due to the specific market development in Germany, a follow-up study to the UBA-study was commissioned by the German Industry Association for Carton Packaging (FKN) in 2006. This independent and scientifically peer-reviewed study confirmed the long term environmental benefits of the cartons. Using the same LCA method and standards as the UBA study of 2002, the study compared beverage cartons and single-use plastic bottles and found the cartons to be clearly advantageous, both in term of its CO2 footprint as well as in some other impact categories.

Link to LCA Beverage cartons report (pdf, in English)

LCA of Consumer Packaging for Liquid Food: Nordic market 2009
This peer-reviewed scientific study was commissioned by Tetra Pak and compared different packaging systems for the Nordic market. The study includes a number of Tetra Pak's packages, and includes reference values for plastic and glass packaging.

Link to Nordic LCA study 2009 (pdf, in English)