Tetra Pak

Tetra Pak's story begins with a simple, yet revolutionary, idea. In 1951, Dr. Ruben Rausing, driven by the vision of creating a package that would 'save more than it costs,' established AB Tetra Pak in Lund, Sweden. This was the culmination of efforts that started in 1943, aiming to develop a milk container that maximized food safety while minimizing material usage. The core innovation, a tetrahedron-shaped paper-based carton, was engineered by Erik Wallenberg. This unique shape, formed from a tube filled with liquid and sealed below the beverage level without air, inspired the company's name. The first Tetra Pak machine, designed for packaging cream in 100ml Tetra Classic cartons, was delivered in 1952 to a local dairy in Lund, marking a significant departure from the traditional heavy glass bottles.

The company's journey was one of continuous innovation and expansion. A pivotal moment came in 1961 with the introduction of the world's first aseptic carton, the Tetra Classic Aseptic (TCA). This groundbreaking technology, which involved sterilizing both the packaging material and the product at high temperatures and adding a layer of aluminum, allowed products like milk to be stored for months without refrigeration. This innovation was hailed by the Institute of Food Technologists as the most important food packaging innovation of the century. The 1960s also saw the debut of the rectangular Tetra Brik in 1963 and the gable-topped Tetra Rex in 1965. By the mid-1990s, under the leadership of Ruben Rausing's sons, Hans and Gad, Tetra Pak had transformed from a small family business with six employees in 1954 into a global corporation. A significant strategic move occurred in 1981 when Tetra Pak relocated its corporate headquarters to Lausanne, Switzerland, while research and development remained in Lund, Sweden. The acquisition of Alfa-Laval AB in 1991 further solidified Tetra Pak's position, enabling the company to offer integrated processing and packaging solutions. Today, Tetra Pak operates in over 160 countries, employing tens of thousands of people and remaining committed to its founding principle of making food safe and available, everywhere, while protecting food, people, and the planet.