Tetra Pak is a high-value composite packaging material, primarily composed of approximately 70% cardboard, 25% plastic, and 5% aluminum foil. Essentially, it is not low-value waste, but rather a multi-resource carrier that can be efficiently recycled. Through mature mechanical separation processes, the various components can be effectively separated and reintroduced into the industrial system, which is the basis for the commercial viability of Tetra Pak recycling.

In the recycling process, Tetra Pak first undergoes separation of the paper from the aluminum-plastic layers. The paper fibers are pulped and purified to form recycled pulp, while the aluminum-plastic composite material (Al-PE) is output as a separate product stream. Due to the clear material structure and mature process, this recycling process operates stably with low losses, making it suitable for large-scale replication.

From a revenue perspective, Tetra Pak recycling offers clear and predictable economic returns. The recycled pulp is a long-fiber, high-strength recycled pulp, widely used in toilet paper, packaging paper, and molded pulp products, with international market prices typically ranging from US$200–350 per ton. Simultaneously, the separated aluminum-plastic composite material can be used in plastic lumber, building materials, fuel alternatives, or downstream aluminum recycling, with market prices generally ranging from US$300–600 per ton. Based on these outputs, under most international market conditions, a Tetra Pak recycling project can achieve a gross profit of approximately US$190–380 per ton.

In terms of equipment, modern Tetra Pak recycling production lines are highly automated and modular, typically integrating feeding, paper-plastic separation, pulping and impurity removal, pulp dewatering and filtration, plastic discharge, and PLC control systems. Pre-crushing equipment can also be configured depending on the raw material conditions. The system operates continuously and stably, consistently producing high-dryness pulp and clean aluminum-plastic materials that meet industrial reuse requirements.

Overall, Tetra Pak recycling is a technologically mature, clearly profitable, and risk-controllable circular economy solution with long-term promotion and investment value in the global packaging waste recycling field.

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