7 reasons to choose Tetra Recart® over other packaging for ready-to-eat baby food
We’ve made a comprehensive list of reasons to choose Tetra Recart over both jars and plastic pouches when it comes to packaging for ready-to-eat (RTE) baby food. Find out why Tetra Recart is a great alternative for producers, retailers, consumers and the environment.
1. Size-flexible line
A convenient and time-saving solution for producers. One Tetra Recart line can handle up to 6 different sizes – from 100 ml to 500 ml – with fast and easy changeover between sizes.
2. Improved logistics
In transport, storage and retail environments, lightweight and space-saving Tetra Recart packs have many advantages.
- Empty Tetra Recart packs use one tenth the amount of storage space as cans (1 million vs 100,000 packs).
- When filled and shipped to retailers, up to 50%–100% more Tetra Recart packages can fit in a truck compared to pouches and glass jars, with primary and secondary packaging weighing 90% less than jars and 12% less than pouches. Tetra Recart’s durability also means it protects particle integrity during transportation.*
- In store, up to 60%–130% more Tetra Recart baby food packages can fit on the shelf.*
- Tetra Recart also cuts in-store secondary packaging waste by 5%–75%.*
3. Safer production
Glass jars can present a food safety risk and are a potential manufacturing nightmare in baby food production facilities. Carton-based Tetra Recart packages avoid that risk completely.
4. It innovates and rejuvenates
Being a relatively new packaging format, Tetra Recart is ideal for combining with new baby food products to rejuvenate what is otherwise a rather traditional and unchanging supermarket shelf. The fact that Tetra Recart packaging is always forward-facing and without gaps in between individual packs creates an appealing “billboard effect” on the shelf – an effective way to showcase your brand and attract consumers in retail settings. The format also eliminates the need to turn jars or fumble with pouches for both staff and consumers.
5. Optimised for e-commerce
Compared with traditional packaging, this lightweight and space-saving format is perfect for e-commerce channels that sell ready-to-eat baby food. Flat, rectangular carton packages are easily optimised for screens, accommodating designs that can grab the attention of e-shoppers more than packaging with rounded edges like jars and pouches. Furthermore, compared to glass jars, Tetra Recart is less likely to break during shipping or damage other items in meal boxes and thus requires less cushioning when delivered to consumers.**
6. Less impact on the environment
According to multiple life cycle assessment (LCA) studies across 4 regions, Tetra Recart has a 62% lower climate impact compared with glass jars and 43% lower than pouches measured in CO2 equivalents. Made from 69% to 71% renewable resources*** (trees from responsibly managed forests), 100% of Tetra Recart packages are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®).
7. Great for consumers
Tetra Recart has the benefits of being highly durable and safe – it won’t break when dropped. And if it doesn’t get eaten in one go, the package is simple to reclose and place in the refrigerator. Consumers also generally see Tetra Recart cartons as more environmentally sound, as well as easy to open, handle, empty, store and dispose of.
Want to learn more about Tetra Recart packaging and how it can benefit your ready-to-eat baby food business?
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*Tetra Pak Competitive Insights
**Package scoring from Hello Fresh, Amazon
***Peer reviewed LCA studies: Europe by Ifeu 2017, European average situation (EU +28); New Zealand and Australia by thinkstep Ltd. 2020, Europe by Ifeu 2020, European average situation