Swiss packaging firm Tetra Pak is introducing paper straws for its juice boxes in response to growing concerns over plastic wastes.

The Lausanne-based company said April 30 it has been working to encourage consumers to push straws “back in the pack” once empty, so they can be collected along with the rest of the package.

“Now, work is under way to develop a paper straw that is suitable for use on its portion-size carton packages,” it added.

“It sounds simple enough,” said Charles Brand, executive vice president, product management and commercial operations, “but in reality, there are a number of significant challenges to producing a paper straw with the required properties.”

According to Brand, Tetra Pak will have a paper straw alternative ready to launch by the end of the year.

On average, Tetra Pak packages are about 75 percent paperboard, with plastics used in the multi-layer structure. Paper straws would be another important step towards the company’s long-term ambition of offering a completely renewable portfolio.

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