Tetra Pak has launched what it describes as the food industry’s first carton packaging for shelf-stable tuna, offering manufacturers a paper-based alternative to traditional metal cans. The new format, developed in collaboration with Spanish seafood producer Jealsa, has already been introduced in Sweden through retailer Axfood and is now being made available to food producers globally.
The packaging system, known as Tetra Recart, is designed to accommodate a range of tuna products including flakes, chunks and spreads. According to Tetra Pak, the format aims to help brands reduce packaging-related emissions, improve logistics efficiency and increase shelf visibility in a category that has remained largely dependent on metal cans for decades.
At the same time, the shift towards alternative packaging comes amid wider scrutiny of food contact materials used across the industry. In recent years, scientific and regulatory discussions in Europe have highlighted concerns around chemical migration from certain packaging types, including substances such as PFAS, bisphenols and microplastics. While safety standards and materials vary widely between packaging systems, these concerns have contributed to increasing interest in paper-based and alternative formats.
Consumer research commissioned by Tetra Pak suggests strong interest in alternative packaging formats, with more than 80% of surveyed consumers stating they would be willing to purchase tuna in the new carton format, and 58% reporting a preference for it over existing packaging options. The global shelf-stable tuna market is also projected to grow significantly over the next decade, with estimates suggesting it could reach 12.4 billion units by 2030, driven by demand for convenient and long-lasting protein products.
As packaging formats continue to evolve, a key question remains: how should different materials be assessed not only for environmental performance, but also for their potential to contribute to long-term chemical exposure through food contact?
Tetra Pak (2026). New Tetra Recart® solution for tuna. Tetrapak.com. https://www.tetrapak.com/en-gb/about-tetra-pak/news-and-events/newsarchive/tetra-recart-carton-packaging-for-shelf-stable-tuna
