Aseptic carton water and recycling initiatives drive change

Deep Sea Water, aseptic carton packaged water placed at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul / Courtesy of Tetra Pak

As industries worldwide intensify their sustainability efforts, the hospitality sector is embracing environmentally conscious changes at a rapid pace.

Last year, the government enforced regulations prohibiting hotels and lodgings with 50 or more rooms from offering complimentary single-use amenities to reduce plastic waste. In response, many hotels have transitioned to reusable alternatives, implemented energy-saving systems and adopted sustainable management practices.

Among these efforts, reducing plastic consumption has become a key priority, leading to significant changes in how hotels provide drinking water. One of the most notable shifts has been replacing plastic water bottles with aseptic cartons.

A leading example is Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, which has replaced plastic water bottles with water in aseptic cartons labeled Deep Sea Water — an exclusive version of Deep Water by iN Natural Dream — across its guest rooms, banquet halls, spa and fitness center. The initiative aligns with the hotel's long-term sustainability strategy.

Recycled paper towels made from aseptic cartons at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul staff lounge / Courtesy of Tetra Pak

This shift is part of a broader global movement, with water in aseptic cartons also served at the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima in 2023. In Korea, Deep Water was introduced in 2021 as the country’s first water in cartons, sourced from deep-sea water over 600 meters below the surface and naturally rich in minerals.

To ensure water quality while minimizing environmental impact, iN Natural Dream partnered with Tetra Pak, a global leader in food packaging solutions. Tetra Pak’s aseptic technology consists of six protective layers that shield the water from oxygen, bacteria and moisture, ensuring long-term safety.

Since 2021, Four Seasons Hotel Seoul has been phasing out plastic water bottles, starting with its fitness center and spa, before expanding to guest rooms and banquet halls in 2023. The hotel goes beyond simply changing materials by actively participating in a resource circulation system. Used aseptic cartons are collected, retrieved by iN Natural Dream and recycled into products like paper towels and toilet paper at HRM Corp.’s recycling facility.

Collected aseptic cartons at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul / Courtesy of Tetra Pak

From June 2021 to January, iN Natural Dream recycled 1,521 kilograms of aseptic cartons. This collaboration between Tetra Pak, Four Seasons Hotel Seoul and iN Natural Dream demonstrates how corporate partnerships can build structured recycling systems and improve sustainability efforts.

“Tetra Pak is working with hotels and industry partners to establish nationwide recycling infrastructure, including collection bins and recycling stations,” Jeff Shim, sales director at Tetra Pak Korea, said. “We aim to expand this model to more industries and promote sustainable resource circulation.”