The facts
About
Our packs...

...AND WHAT WE’RE DOING TO MAKE THEM BETTER

We’re the pioneers of plant-based. Alpro was born plant-based, way back in 1980, and we’ve been banging that big, plant-based drum ever since. Our mission back then was the same as it is now: to help people make positive choices when it comes to food. 

In other words:

We are passionate about our packaging. We're not where we'd like to be, yet. But we're working on it. 

You know that old saying it’s what’s inside that counts? We totally believe it. Inside our packs you’ll find only quality plant-based ingredients. But we’re taking a look at what’s happening on the outside, too. Our packaging works. Great. But that’s not enough, is it? We want to know where it comes from and where it’s going to go when the job is done.

Say 'hello' to all our lovely packs

We’re happy that our 1L drinks cartons are mostly made from renewable paper (71% of the total). Our cartons are sandwiched with thin layers of PE plastic (polyethylene) to protect the product inside. These cartons can be recycled, but it’s important to check whether this is part of your home collection or if it can be dropped off at specific recycling points locally – check here at: https://www.recyclenow.com/about-us/recycling-locator-tool

Our non-chilled drinks cartons have a very thin layer of aluminium, too, but only the minimum required. Aluminium makes the packs liquid-proof, but also allows to be transported and stored without being chilled. It seals the product for longer shelf life, good; challenging to recycle, bad; one for our to do list!

For our long-life products, the aluminium layer makes the packaging completely airtight. It also provides excellent protection for the beverage inside. As a result, our long-life cartons can be transported and stored without refrigeration.

We are happy to say that we have, by design, a fully recyclable pack.

But it’s important to check whether this is part of your home collection or if it can be dropped off at specific recycling points locally – check here at: https://www.recyclenow.com/about-us/recycling-locator-tool

Yay! All our little pots are made from fully recyclable PET plastic (polyethylene terephthalate). It's safe, strong and perfect for keeping our yummy foods delicious until you pop them open.

PET is recyclable. Not just that, it's the only material that can be turned straight back into food packaging.

Knowing that solutions exist. But we also know we're not all the way there yet.

The main ingredient in our big pots is PP (polypropylene), safe and recyclable. The outer sleeve is recycled cardboard.

The PP pot can be recycled if it is sorted separately from its sleeve. Who knows, it could have a whole new life as a cosy fleece or a compost bin. And the wrapper? Just peel it off and sort it with all your other paper and cardboard. Keeping everything delicious for longer, the inner lid is made aluminium. Put it in the recycling bin. The outer lid is recyclable PET plastic. Safe, strong, turns into any shape, and once recycled, can turn into new packaging.

This combo makes for a pot strong enough to hold a sharing size helping of our delicious plant-based alternative to yogurt, keeping it delicious until you dive in.  

Right now, we need the plastic to keep everything watertight. But at least adding the cardboard means replacing some part of it. Plus, we like the fact that the cup and sleeve are both fully recyclable. (If they're separated and put in the correct recycling bin, of course.)

We're always working on ways to improve our packaging, like finding alternative solutions for the single use PET lid, for example

Our cartons for the Fresh range are mainly made from renewable paper (74% of the total) – with FSC certified wood that goes into our paperboard, plantastic.

Our cartons are sandwiched with thin layers of PE plastic (polyethylene) to protect the product inside.

Our cartons for the Fresh range are mainly made from renewable paper (74% of the total) – with FSC certified wood that goes into our paperboard, plantastic.

Did you know the Tetra Brik® Aseptic 1L carton is made of 71% paperboard, a renewable source from FSC® certified forests?*

Did you know the Tetra Brik® Aseptic 1L carton is made of 71% paperboard, a renewable source from FSC® certified forests* and other controlled sources? The rest of the carton is made of 24% plastic and 5% aluminum, which is 8 x thinner than a human hair, to provide vital protection from oxygen and light, extending the shelf life of the aseptic Alpro beverages. 

*The FSC license code for Tetra Pak is FSC® C014047.

Discover More

Discover all our delicious plant-based products

82C7A5AA-D12D-481F-A8D8CBA4474046F0<br>Alpro PBay Strawberry 500g UK_EL.tif<br>80002907

Strawberry Plant-Based Alternative to Yoghurt
186C93B4-B4CD-457C-A3404609A39EB2C7<br>Alpro_Drink_Barista_Oat_1L_edge_UK_NL_FR_DE_front[1].tif<br>80005459, 80006697, 80006746

Alpro Barista Oat
91A4B09A-0D33-4EDB-A06946EB74ABAAE0<br>Alpro Drink Soya Original 1L edge UK front.tif<br>80005382

Soya Original
FE3F61F8-A75D-410C-B260C98263821D21<br>Alpro Drink Almond Roasted no sugars 1L edge UK front.tif<br>80006786

Almond Roasted No Sugars
View all products

Still got questions?

Good question. We had to look it up, too. rPET is simply PET plastic (polyethylene terephthalate to give it its full name) that’s already been recycled at least once. Just one of the reasons we’ve chosen it for our snazzy new drinks bottles. Next, it’s easy to turn into any shape you like. And here’s the third reason why we like it – it’s just as easy to turn it straight into new bottles or any other food packaging when it’s done its job, and there aren’t many plastics you can do that with.

We know it must seem a little strange when everyone’s talking about cutting down on plastic. But here’s the thing. The plastic we’ve chosen contains recycled rPET. And the deal maker for us? PET’s the only plastic that can be turned straight back into food packaging. It keeps our designers happy, too, because it can be turned into any shape our they come up with. So not just useful, a pretty face as well!

The short answer is, yes, 100% recyclable depending on where you live. The long answer? The main body of the bottle is 100% recyclable. The HDPE cap is recyclable, too – all you have to do is rescrew it back onto the bottle before you pop it in the recycling bin. Which just leaves that smart outer sleeve. Because it’s coloured, you’ll need to peel it off before you recycle the bottle. It’s recyclable in some countries, but unlike transparent uncoloured PET might be used to make a fleece rather than a new food pack.

Cartons have their good points and they’re perfect for some products, but for our premium and plant-based alternative to yogurt drinks, plastic bottles won out. Resealable and 100% recyclable if the sleeve is taken off. And 42% of the PET in the bottle will be already recycled before we get our hands on it.

Number one, naturally we’d only pick something safe, tried and tested for food. Number two, it has to be 100% recyclable (if the sleeve is taken off). PET’s both of those, perfect for keeping our drinks delicious and the only plastic that can be turned straight back into brand new food packaging. And we like rPET even more because it’s already been recycled at least once before we get our hands on it: 42% of the PET in the bottle will be already recycled.

Read More