IBP WORLD NEWS
SEOUL DAIRY IS
BRINGING SIG
TERRA ALU-FREE +
FULL BARRIER TO
SHELVES IN A LANDMARK MOVE TO BOOST SUSTAINABILITY IN
PACKAGING, SEOUL DAIRY COOPERATIVE (SDC), KOREA’S
LEADING MILK PRODUCER, HAS BECOME THE FIRST COMPANY
IN THE COUNTRY TO LAUNCH PRODUCTS IN ALUMINIUM-
LAYER-FREE FULL BARRIER ASEPTIC CARTON PACKS THAT
ARE RECOGNISED AS RECYCLABLE UNDER THE COUNTRY’S
RECYCLABILITY GRADING SYSTEM.

In a first move, SDC will offer organic
white milk in SIG Terra Alu-free + Full
barrier. This innovation, developed
by SIG, is the world’s first full-barrier
aseptic carton packaging material
without an aluminium layer. It provides
the same full-barrier protection as
standard aseptic cartons and the same
shelf life of up to 12 months.

The environmental benefits are
substantial. Although aluminium
accounts for only about 5% of a
standard aseptic carton’s weight,
it contributes about 25% of its
carbon footprint1. Eliminating the
aluminium layer significantly reduces
environmental impact while also
paving the way for simplified recycling.

Green Aseptic™ Awarded JSDA Grand Prize
Green Aseptic, the unique and innovative non-thermal sterilisation system
developed by Dai Nippon Printing’s (DNP) Aseptic Systems division, has been
awarded the Grand Prize of the Research Award by the Japan Soft Drink
Association. Judged by a professional team of researchers and technologists in the
soft drinks sector, the JSDA Research Award recognises significant technological
and environmental contributions to advance the beverage industry.

Green Aseptic is pushing the sustainability
trend by replacing traditional high-
temperature sterilisation processes in
beverage production with a non-heating
sterilisation system. Combining medium-
pressure UV lamps with filters enables
sterile water to be produced at room
16 temperature, saving vast amounts of
energy and reducing CO2 emissions.

Suited for both low and high-acid
beverages, Green Aseptic reduces the
use of steam, water, and electricity,
lowering operating costs for producers.

The system can easily be installed in
Under Korea’s current environmental
regulations, the new packaging
introduced by SDC is officially labelled
recyclable. The aseptic cartons are the
first in Korea to achieve a recyclable
grade from Korea’s recyclability grading
system. This means, the cartons can be
collected and recycled alongside chilled
gable top cartons that currently have a
10 times higher recycling rate in Korea
than conventional aseptic cartons.

RECEIVING THE JSDA
RESEARCH AWARD GRAND
PRIZE IS AN INCREDIBLE
ACHIEVEMENT FOR US.

new, or existing facilities allowing drink
manufacturers to take advantage of the
eco-friendly technology.

Green Aseptic is also registered
as eligible energy-saving equipment
under the Energy Conservation Subsidy
Program of Japan’s Ministry of Economy,
Trade and Industry (Agency for Natural
Resources and Energy), which can provide
INTERNATIONAL BOTTLER & PACKER | DECEMBER 2025



WORLD NEWS
“Seoul Dairy has always delivered
the best products to Korean families
under our philosophy of Making the
World healthier with Milk, and that
commitment extends to the way we
protect our environment,” said Jinsup
Moon, President & CEO at Seoul Dairy
Cooperative. “By adopting SIG Terra
Alu-free + Full barrier, we are taking
a significant step toward enhanced
recycling and supporting Korea’s drive
for a circular economy.”
Conventional aseptic cartons are made
of three materials paper, polymers, and
an aluminium layer to ensure full-barrier
protection and long shelf life without
refrigeration. SIG Terra Alu-free + Full
barrier packaging material replaces
the aluminium layer with an ultra-thin
polymer layer, simplifying the packaging
structure from three to just two main raw
materials: FSCTM-certified paperboard
and polymers. This streamlined design
maintains full-barrier protection and
is fully compatible with South Korea’s
existing recycling infrastructure.

“This is more than just an incremental
improvement it’s a game-changer for
the industry,” said Hans Cho, Country
Manager at SIG Korea. “SIG Terra Alu-
free + Full barrier can seamlessly run
on existing SIG carton filling lines with
full performance including high-speed
of up to 24,000pph on SIG filling lines
for small-size cartons with only minor,
low-cost adaptations. It’s a plug-and-
play solution for beverage producers
who want to future-proof their packaging
and deliver on sustainability without
compromising product quality or
production performance.”
SIG is a pioneer in its industry and
introduced the first packaging material
without an aluminium layer for aseptic
cartons in 2010: SIG Terra Alu-free.

Since then, SIG has sold over 4 billion
packs featuring no aluminium layer.

Drawing on its extensive knowledge
and experience with alu-layer-free
structures and building on the success
of SIG Terra Alu-free, the company
has continued to grow its aluminium-
layer-free aseptic carton portfolio with
every solution reducing the already low
carbon footprint of standard SIG aseptic
cartons even further.

With SIG Terra Alu-free + Full
barrier SIG expanded the alu layer-free
options for wider use with oxygen-
sensitive products such as fruit juices,
nectars, flavoured milk or plant-based
beverages. With over 400 million packs
already sold since 2023, SIG Terra
Alu-free + Full barrier has proven its
scalability and market readiness.

The market launch in Korea opens
subsidies to companies adopting greener,
eco-conscious production methods.

“Receiving the JSDA Research Award
Grand Prize is an incredible achievement
for us.” said Atsushi Hayakawa, General
Manager, Technical Development
Department of Aseptic Systems. “This
recognises DNP’s commitment to creating
practical and effective solutions for energy-
efficient beverage production and we
will continue to develop more innovative
technologies for a sustainable future.”
Coca-Cola HBC Expands in Africa
 www.global.dnp/group/
aseptic-systems/solution/ VISIT OUR WEBSITE | www.binstedgroup.com
the door for brands to differentiate
themselves with visible sustainability
gains and to respond swiftly to evolving
consumer and regulatory demands,
without compromising barrier
performance, product safety, or shelf life.

 www.sig.biz
 +49 2462 790
Coca-Cola HBC is to buy a majority stake in Coca-Cola Beverages Africa,
a deal set to create the world’s second-largest Coke bottler.

The UK-listed group has struck a deal
to buy a combined 75% of Coca-Cola
Beverages Africa (CCBA) from The
Coca-Cola Company and Gutsche
Family Investments for $2.6bn.

The company has operations in Egypt
and Nigeria. The deal will see Coca-Cola
HBC enter 14 more markets in Africa,
including Ethiopia, Kenya and South Africa.

“We have a deep understanding
of the compelling proposition Africa
presents. It has a sizable and growing
consumer base and there are significant
opportunities to increase per capita
consumption,” said Coca-Cola HBC Chief
Executive, Zoran Bogdanovic.

Combined, the companies would
have generated pro-forma revenues of
€14.1bn and EBIT of €1.4bn in 2024.

The businesses together would account
for two-thirds of the volumes put
through the Coca-Cola system in Africa.

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