Tesco switches 20 chilled-food SKUs to MM paper-based barrier tray

Mayr-Melnhof's MM Board & Paper unit supplied ALASKA Barrier Grease, a virgin-fibre cartonboard with a water-based dispersion barrier, to replace PE-coated cartonboard trays across 20 Tesco chilled-food SKUs. Samworth Brothers Manton Wood packs the products and Paranova Print & Packaging converts the board into trays; the change moved the packaging from an amber to a green UK EPR classification and removes about 320 tonnes a year of PE-lined cartonboard.

Why this mattersA named UK retailer adopting a plastic-free barrier board at 20-SKU scale signals fibre-based alternatives are displacing PE linings in chilled-food trays ahead of UK EPR cost pressure.

• ALASKA Barrier Grease cartonboard is produced at MM Kotkamills and uses a water-based dispersion barrier instead of a PE lining.
• The rollout covers 20 chilled-food SKUs for Tesco, packed by Samworth Brothers Manton Wood and converted by Paranova Print & Packaging.
• The switch replaces approximately 320 tonnes of PE-lined cartonboard per year.
• The packaging moved from an amber to a green classification under the UK EPR Recyclability Assessment Methodology.
• Independent testing under the CEPI/4evergreen method recorded a recycling yield of around 99% for the barrier board.
• Trays remain flow-wrapped in plastic film, but the cartonboard and film are designed to separate easily for recycling.

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