Aseptic packages, commonly called "drink boxes," are among the most environmentally-efficient and energy-efficient beverage packages on the market today. From production and filling to distribution, storage and disposal, drink boxes use less energy and fewer materials than any other packaging systems.

Source Reduction: A Federal Priority

Aseptic packaging is a great example of up-front source reduction: reducing the amount of material produced at the "source" so there is less for the consumer to throw away or recycle. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists source reduction as its number one priority in reducing solid waste - ahead of recycling, waste-to-energy incineration, and landfilling.

"Aseptics are a great example of source reduction [reducing the amount of packaging for a single product], which is the EPA's top priority," according to the agency.

A drink box is typically 96 percent beverage to 4 percent packaging, by weight. Compared with other types of packages, this "product to package" ratio illustrates that the drink box is a very efficient package that can help minimize solid waste. In fact, it also compares favorably to other single-serve containers on a volume basis, accounting for less volume than single-serve paperboard cartons and bottles made from plastic or glass.

Aseptic packaging's light weight and energy efficiency are illustrated when comparing various types of packages used to deliver 64 ounces (one half-gallon) of beverage. For example, the 7.5 single-serve drink boxes it takes to deliver 64 ounces of juice create fully seven times less waste (by weight) than one 64-ounce glass bottle (119.8 grams vs. 860.6 grams).

All this helps explain why aseptic packaging carries roughly 9 percent of all juice and juice drink products to consumers, while comprising only 3 percent of the packaging waste associated with these products.

As an example of how dramatically aseptic packaging reduces waste at the source, if drink boxes were substituted for all other juice and juice drink containers, packaging waste associated with juice products would decrease more than 77 percent - eliminating 800,000 tons of municipal solid waste each year.

Aseptics Use Less Energy

Many of the same characteristics that make drink boxes an excellent example of source reduction also help save energy. Thanks to their lightweight, innovative brick shape design and unique filling process, drink boxes are among the most energy-efficient beverage packages on the market today.

Drink boxes begin saving energy even before they are filled. Empty packages are stored flat or on rolls, rather than pre-formed like glass, metal and most plastic containers. As a result, one standard semi-trailer truck can transport 1.5 million empty drink boxes versus only 150,000 glass bottles.

Once filled, the light weight and compact brick shape of drink boxes conserve even more energy in transport. Their brick shape is space-efficient, and because they are lightweight, more product can be shipped in fewer trucks than heavier beverage packages.

Finally, because drink boxes preserve their contents without refrigeration, no refrigerated trucks, special warehouses, or retail freezers or coolers are needed. This helps save both electricity and gasoline.

In fact, a study by Franklin Associates, Ltd., showed that drink boxes use far less energy to deliver the same amount of beverage than other larger containers. For example, multi-serve plastic and glass bottles can use three times more energy than drink boxes to deliver the same amount of beverage.