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Liquid paperboard

Liquid paperboard (LPB) is used in a range of beverage containers, including juice boxes, flavoured milk cartons and coconut water cartons.

While it can be recycled through Queensland’s container refund scheme, LPB is one of the most complex beverage packaging materials to recover and recycle.

This is because it is made from multiple bonded layers that must be separated before recycling.

Liquid paperboard beverage carton alongside recycled paper fibres, illustrating carton recycling and resource recovery.

What is liquid paperboard (LPB)?

Liquid paperboard containers are made from several bonded layers, including:

  • Paper Fibre
  • Plastic (polyethylene)
  • Aluminium

It is difficult to recycle because all the layers must be separated first.

What products use liquid paperboard?

Typical products include:

  • Juice boxes (poppers)
  • Flavoured UHT milk cartons
  • Breakfast style carton drinks
  • Coconut water cartons

Why is liquid paperboard difficult to recycle?

Multiple materials

Unlike aluminium or glass, LPB cannot be recycled as a single material.

Few recycling pathways

Australia has limited domestic processing capacity for containers made from LPB.

Low public awareness

Only around half of scheme participants know containers made from LPB can be returned for a refund.

Lower recyclability

Containers made with LPB that are disposed via kerbside recycling and processed at Material Recovery Facilities cannot be recovered for recycling through the scheme.

How much liquid paperboard was recovered in FY26?

  • 41 million LPB containers were returned through Containers for Change refund points
  • 815 tonnes were recycled at facilities in New South Wales and Spain
  • 28% total recovery rate

The Queensland Container Refund Scheme Material Recovery Facility Recovery Amount Protocol (September 2023) excludes liquid paperboard from Material Recovery Facility recovery.

What can liquid paperboard be recycled into?

What is COEX doing to improve liquid paperboard recycling?

  • Developing and supporting awareness campaigns
  • Establishing accredited recycling pathways
  • Implementing eco-modulation pricing