The History of Juice Boxes

Juice boxes got their start in Sweden when, in 1963, Ruben Rausing needed an efficient way to get milk to market. The metal cannisters used at the time were large and bulky, so he created what he called the “Tetra Brik.” This new type of packaging was easier to stack and much more space-efficient than previous options. Rausing rolled out the revolutionary packaging through his company, which he named TetraPak, but he didn’t stop there. Five years later, he discovered how to fill his Tetra Brik boxes under sterile or aseptic conditions. This meant that the contents would keep for a very long time without any need for refrigeration. TetraPak caught on all across Europe and was used to store milk, juice, soup, sauce, and other liquids. Soon, this packaging made its way to other parts of the world, including the United States. Unlike in Europe, Americans tended to have large refrigerators and because space was not typically at a premium, the new packaging wasn’t applied to as many items. One place it did take off? Juice storage for kids. Because most children spent large parts of their day away from refrigerators, aseptic packaging was a boon for the lunchbox set. It also meant that parents could stock up on juice boxes and store them wherever they liked, from the car to the stroller to the pantry, without fear of spoilage. Juice boxes caught on with kids, too, who immediately appreciated having their own individual packages of juice to sip on. Juice boxes were introduced to the United States in the early 1980s and have remained a hallmark of childhood ever since. Today, many different brands sell juice boxes and they are available at nearly every grocery store in the country.