In 1943, experiments began to create a package for milk that required a minimum of material whilst providing maximum hygiene. The Tetra Pak Co. was founded in 1951 in Sweden. The goal was to provide optimal food safety, hygiene and distribution efficiency using a minimum amount of material. In 1944, Ruben Rausing who worked at the company, came up with the idea of constructing a tetrahedron-shaped package out of a tube of paper.
The carton was devised as a packaging solution for everyday foods, especially milk that was sold in heavy and costly bottles. It facilitated a longer shelf life (up to a year) for products which previously had to be consumed within days.