Business & Money | Monday 17 February, 2020 4:50 am |

Oasis, a leading water brand of UAE based National Food Products Company (NFPC) today, February 16, 2020 stakes its claim as the first beverage brand in the GCC to provide drinking water for the consumer market in Tetra Pak carton packages, environmentally sound packaging material that boasts a wealth of biodegradable and recyclable properties. 

The pioneering Oasis product was unveiled at Gulfood and reaffirms NFPC’s commitment to an innovative sustainability agenda.  The major F&B organisation, which serves over 50% of the UAE population with its daily water, juice, dairy & snacking needs, has already reduced the amount of plastic used in its 500 ml water bottles by 45%.  The introduction of Tetra Pak carton packages elevates the company’s environmental commitment to a new and unprecedented level.  

The main material used in Tetra Pak package is paperboard, a renewable material made from wood. It is Forest Stewardship Council™-certified and also features six layers that protect the contents from sun, air and light.  Cardboard is the main component used, and it is sourced from trees with new trees planted to replace the ones used for production. A number of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) studies​​ [Anchor]  have assessed that the Tetra Pak carton is generally attributed with the lowest environmental impact of all packaging formats.  

Iqbal Hamzah, Group CEO of National Food Products company commented: “We have worked with Tetra Pak over several years; our juices and dairy products are being produced in this environmentally considerate packaging.  Our decision to provide drinking water within Tetra Pak packages, which provides so many waste reducing benefits, is our keen commitment in addressing the serious issues of global pollution. We are immensely excited at being the first F&B provider in the GCC to launch this to a consumer audience through our retail partners. A great deal of thought and effort has gone into its design and creation – we want it to have a dynamic shelf presence in order to appeal to a mass audience, and we have worked hard to make its price point very competitive. In the weeks to come we are confident that it will resonate very strongly with people who are making concerted efforts in sustaining the planet.”

Amar Zahid, President of Middle East & Africa Tetra Pak said: “We are excited and proud to see our customers adapting sustainable packaging solutions in the UAE which is becoming more and more aware of the environmental cause. Our collaborations with NFPC today for the launch of water in carton will help us continue to innovate and offer F&B solutions that are healthier and less impactful on our Planet”.