A new packaging design makes it easy to separate paper from plastic

The design allows the user to tear the paper-based parts of a carton away from the inner plastic liner

Spotted: Paper drinks cartons are used for many of our most-beloved beverages – from milk to orange juice. In fact, on average, around 900,000 tonnes of beverage cartons are put on the market in Europe each year, with the majority being used for dairy products. The paper exterior of these cartons provides consumers with a comforting sense of sustainability, and it is true that they can be recycled at scale. However, in standard drinks cartons, the paper is interspersed with layers of plastic. These layers must be separated using a special process that is expensive and not readily available in every region.

To combat this, designer Pushan Panda has developed a packaging design—called Bruk—that allows consumers to easily separate the layers by tearing the paper carton in half. The inner HDPE liner can then be easily removed and recycled separately from the cardboard. This means that the whole carton is recyclable using standard equipment. Bruk also uses less plastic overall than a conventional carton.

From a consumer perspective, the design is intuitive and familiar – resembling cartons that are already on the market. Panda’s website explains, “We designed Bruk to be intuitive and inclusive, easy for everyone regardless of physical ability.”

Other packaging designs that make recycling easier include a super-slippery bottle design and a stretchable, printable paper wrap.

Written By: Matthew Hempstead