In fact, pure paper packaging materials are very difficult to use in drinks. As we say, paper packaging for drinks almost refers to paper composite materials. Composite paper packaging is widely used in beverages, especially non carbonated beverages. Dairy products are the largest application field, and fruit juice, tea and coffee are the most widely used varieties in beverage packaging. At present, almost all the major domestic milk, juice, tea beverage manufacturers have paper packaging products on the market.

Typical composite paper packages used in beverage industry include Tetra Pak and Kangmei box with ultra-high temperature sterilization process, international paper industry or roof bag of four countries requiring refrigeration, etc.

In the composite structure, Tetra Pak or conmey box with ultra-high temperature sterilization process has higher requirements for packaging materials, and generally adopts the 7-layer composite structure of paper / plastic / aluminum foil and adhesive layer,

To ensure that it can withstand ultra-high temperature instantaneous sterilization, and strictly block the invasion of air and water. Drinks or dairy products sterilized by ultra-high temperature, also known as "aseptic packaging", can be stored at room temperature, and the shelf life can reach more than one year.

In the composite structure, Tetra Pak or conmey box with ultra-high temperature sterilization process has higher requirements for packaging materials, and generally adopts the 7-layer composite structure of paper / plastic / aluminum foil and adhesive layer,

To ensure that it can withstand ultra-high temperature instantaneous sterilization, and strictly block the invasion of air and water. Drinks or dairy products sterilized by ultra-high temperature, also known as "aseptic packaging", can be stored at room temperature, and the shelf life can reach more than one year.

Ultra high temperature sterilization beverage packaging can be stored at room temperature, which is very suitable for the status quo of incomplete cold chain in China, so it develops very rapidly in China. However, the ultra-high temperature sterilization technology not only brings convenience, but also affects the taste of the beverage, which will destroy or change the inherent flavor of the beverage. Therefore, in recent years, the paper composite packaging represented by the roof package of international paper industry has sprung up.

Relatively speaking, the paper packaging structure of international paper industry is relatively simple. Because the processing technology does not need to withstand ultra-high temperature, it is generally a paper / plastic 4-layer structure, with no aluminum foil layer and no 7-layer barrier. Products need to be refrigerated, shelf life is generally not more than 40 days. However, the taste of the beverage is maintained better and the loss of nutrients is less. Especially with the continuous improvement of China's cold chain and sales environment, as well as the improvement of consumers' requirements for the taste of drinks, the paper packaged drinks with fresh-keeping packaging have become popular in big cities. Although the proportion of paper packaged fresh-keeping drinks can not be compared with that of ultra-high temperature sterilized drinks at present, from the international development and recent development trend in China, fresh-keeping drinks will be the focus of the development of packaged drinks in China in the future.

Types of green packaging materials

1. Reusable and recycled packaging materials

Reusable packaging, such as beer, beverage, soy sauce, vinegar and other packaging using glass bottles for repeated use. In Sweden and other countries, PET beverage bottles and PC milk bottles are reused more than 20 times. Wellman company of the Netherlands and Johnson company of the United States recycled 100% PET containers.

Recycling packaging, such as polyester bottles, can be recycled in two ways after recycling. The physical method is to thoroughly clean and crush without any residual pollutants. The treated plastic can be directly used for recycling packaging containers. The chemical method is to smash and wash the recovered pet, depolymerize it into monomer or oligomer with depolymerizer methanol water, ethylene glycol or diethylene glycol under the action of alkaline catalyst, and then repolymerize the monomer or oligomer to synthesize recycled PET resin packaging material after purification.

The reuse and regeneration of packaging materials only extend the service life of polymer materials such as plastics as packaging materials. When they reach their service life, they still face the problems of waste treatment and environmental pollution.