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Tetra Pak has unveiled its latest innovation in sustainable food processing technology: the Integrated Heat Pump system, designed to significantly enhance the energy efficiency of pasteurisation processes.

This new system is poised to reduce energy consumption by up to 77%, while also lowering operational costs and carbon dioxide emissions.

Pasteurisation is essential for ensuring food safety and quality, but traditional methods are notoriously energy-intensive, typically relying on fossil fuels for heating and electrical chillers for cooling.

As the food and beverage industry increasingly prioritises sustainability and cost-effectiveness, Tetra Pak’s Integrated Heat Pump system represents a significant advancement by optimising energy use through innovative heat recovery and reuse techniques.

The new system leverages a high-efficiency electric heat pump that can recover and reuse heat generated during the pasteurisation process. For every 1kWh of electricity consumed, the system can recover up to 2kWh of wasted heat, making it up to three times more efficient than conventional boiler systems.

This dual functionality not only enhances energy efficiency but also integrates heating and cooling into a single solution, which is particularly beneficial for large-scale pasteurisation operations in sectors such as dairy, fruit juice and chilled foods.

According to Tetra Pak, a typical dairy production line could see energy consumption for pasteurisation reduced by 77%, translating to potential operating expense savings of up to €230,000 per year and a decrease in CO2 emissions by approximately 650 tonnes annually.

Nicole Uvenbeck, director of factory sustainable solutions and OEM components at Tetra Pak, said: “The new heat pump system delivers up to three times the efficiency of conventional boilers,” highlighting the system's capacity to recover significant amounts of heat.

Fiona Liebehenz, vice president of key components, plant solutions and channel management at Tetra Pak, added: “Our long-standing experience in developing processing solutions for the food and beverage industry, combined with a strong focus on innovation, has led to this important advancement. We aim to make one of the most energy-intensive stages of food production more efficient.”