UPM Specialty Papers and Michelman have co-created three solutions that are designed to allow brand owners to replace multi-material, non-recyclable packaging with paper-based alternatives that meet their requirements for food contact and recyclability.

Thierry Van Migem, sales director for EMEA at Michelman, said, “UPM's papers provide a perfect foundation for our water-based barrier and heat seal coatings. Working closely with them for many years has allowed our combined team to increase the performance threshold of fiber-based substrates while maintaining recyclability. These new solutions will allow the market to accelerate its transition to more sustainable packaging.”

One of the most exciting results is a high-barrier packaging material that combines UPM Solide Lucent-base paper with three of Michelman’s water-based coatings, delivering robust oxygen and moisture vapour barriers with heat-sealability. This makes it ideal for demanding products such as chocolate and even coffee.

A second innovation offers superior barrier properties ideal for frozen foods. The concept is based on a highly effective combination of either UPM Asendo or UPM Asendo Pro barrier papers and Michelman’s next-generation heat-sealable barrier coatings.

A third breakthrough solution has significantly boosted resistance to water vapour and grease. Michelman’s high-performing VaporCoat 2240 coating serves to enhance the existing barrier properties of UPM Asendo and UPM Asendo Pro papers, making the concept particularly suitable for inner liners in end-uses such as corrugated cardboard boxes.

All three structures have been tested for recyclability according to the PTS-RH 021/97 cat II method.

Esa Saukkonen, manager of packaging portfolio development at UPM, “We are very excited about the possibilities these three concepts can offer to brands and converters to replace multi-material packaging structures that are difficult to recycle. Collaborations such as these are crucial for innovating new, recyclable, fiber-based packaging solutions.”